WMO Haiti – Update # 1
8 February 2010
I Overall:
1. Estimated Loss of life from the earthquake in Haiti is over 200,000. Over 30% of buildings in Portau-Prince have been completely destroyed and much more are damaged and unsafe. Detailed
assessments are underway. Major concerns relate to ensuring forecasting, early warning and shelter
for earthquake victims as rainy and hurricane seasons approach.
2. WMO is taking on two coordinated streams of activities:
a. Coordinating WMO Members with respect to their support (Meteorological information and
other technical support) – D/DRA
b. Coordinating with two primary UN funding mechanisms post disasters for strengthening of
the Metrological Services to support Early warning System, DRR activities and socioeconomic development as part of the Haiti reconstruction. – C/DRR
II Update on the National Meteorological Service of Haiti and Activities of WMO Members
1. A WMO press release and conference planned for Friday 5 February was postponed to Tuesday 9
February allow for the possible participation of the WMO Secretary General. The release will focus on
the need to improve met service capabilities as part of the overall effort to prepare for rainy and
hurricane seasons.
2. Following a discussion held at the AMS Conference in Atlanta on January 18, the Regional Office in
Costa Rica has worked with RA IV president, and RA IV members to facilitate a coordinated approach
in their support for Haiti. Specifically;
a. To date, USA, Canada and the UK have submitted information on their activities in support of
Haiti to the Regional office in Costa Rica.
i. Based on previous missions, surveys and the several phone interviews with Mr.
Semelforte, Director of the National Meteorological Center of Haiti after the Earthquake,
a background document has been prepared to support various WMO activities. (Please
see the report attached)
ii. Over the weekend, WMO arranged with NOAA/NWS for meetings between Haitian
Met Director Mr Semelforte and the US Air Force. The objective for these meetings was
to improve coordination. A new team of 4 forecasters from the US will arrive soon and
the US Captain responsible welcomes working with the Haitian Met Center, perhaps
even co-locating if feasible. A preliminary site assessment was done on Saturday 6
February.
iii. The USA (United States Air Force, NWS Southern Region) is providing forecasting
services for Haiti. NOAA/NWS is also deploying up to three Emergency Management
Weather Information Network (EMWIN) units, which are suitable, both for forecasting
and emergency managers. The US is also planning to deploy a GTS-linked International
Satellite Communication System (ISCS) unit as well as someone to go and train the
Haitians on the EMWIN and ISCS systems.
iv. Canada - Environment Canada’s Meteorological Service (MSC) is providing
meteorological support to Canada’s relief and recovery operations in Haiti.
Environment Canada’s meteorologists produce special meteorological reports that are
issued twice daily at 0600 EST and 1800 EST. The area covered by those reports is a 30
nm radius of the City of Jacmel, the area where the operational command base for
Canada’s military relief operation in Haiti is located. This area includes the cities of
Logone and Port-au-Prince. Other products for operations are being planned in
consultation with relevant authorities.
v. The Dominican Republic started to provide forecasts to Haiti during the 2008 hurricane
season and continues to do so.
vi. In addition to Canada, the Dominican Republic and the US providing forecasts, we
learned the UK Meteorological Office will soon start providing to UK-based NGOs
working on disaster relief in Haiti, a daily email service to give a brief outlook with up
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to 14 days notice of potential high-impact weather events, particularly heavy rain and
tropical cyclones.
b. Tyrone Sutherland made a number of suggestions regarding possible private sector contributions
and the need to coordinate with the Mexico ICAO office.
c. During the Hurricane Committee (March 8-12) a coordination meeting will be organised
engaging members of RA IV and representatives from Haiti to coordinate and develop clear
protocols and procedures for provision of meteorological information during the upcoming rainy
and hurricane seasons. DRA and TCP will organize a coordination meeting for Haiti.
d. During the “Multi-Hazard EWS Training Workshop and Coordination Meeting - March 22-26,
2010) organized by WMO and the USA, DRR and DRA will organize a second meeting on Haiti
to address other key issues pertaining to EWS for Haiti for the immediate and longer-term needs.
III Updates on WMO initiatives with UN post-disaster fundraising mechanisms to raise funds for the
development of the Haiti Metrological Service.
Background: There are two main fundraising mechanisms following a disaster,
through which the UN and other partners raise funds to address shorter-term
humanitarian and longer-term reconstruction and development needs of the country.
(Revised) Flash Appeal: Following a major disaster in a country, when the
government requests humanitarian assistance, the IASC Cluster system (involving
humanitarian agencies, UNDP and UNEP) initiate a “Flash Appeal” coordinated
process to raise funds for the immediate humanitarian needs during the first month
post disaster). If needed, this will then be supplemented by a “Revised Flash Appeal”
to address humanitarian and early recovery needs from Month 4 to 12). There are
many restrictions and requirements on which projects can get submitted under this
mechanism. WMO has previous experience with this process following the 2004 Indian
Ocean Tsunami, where nearly 1 M USD was raised to address the upgrade of GTS in
the Indian Ocean Rim countries. Based on discussions with the Global Cluster
coordinators of the Flash Appeal, C/DRR has engaged WMO officially in the Cluster
for Early Recovery, which means that not only for Haiti but also in the future
disasters, WMO will get a notification to engage in the process, if Flash Appeal is
activated. As of Feb 4, the Flash Appeal was funded at 87%.
Post Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) for Reconstruction plan: Following a
major disaster in a country, upon request of the government a PDNA mission is
organized by (UN/UNDP-World Bank-EC) with close collaboration with the
government to assess countries reconstruction needs and develop a clear
reconstruction framework. For the first time, WMO is participating in this process, to
ensure that the reconstruction of the National Meteorological service of Haiti is
included in the reconstruction plan of the country. The report of the PDNA will be
formally presented in a pledging meeting in New York to the donors in NYC. Based on
lessons learnt from Haiti and when relevant, WMO can consider to utilize
participation in the PDNA process as the means to engage NMHS reconstruction or
strengthening as part of the reconstruction planning process Based on discussions
with the Global Coordinator of PDNA un UNDP, C/DRR has engaged WMO officially
in the Cluster for Disaster Risk Reduction, which means that not only for Haiti for but
also in the future when PDNA is requested,, WMO will get a notification to engage in
the process.
IV Updates on WMO activities for the Revised Flash Appeal and PDNA for Haiti:
Revised Flash Appeal
1) To date the original Flash Appeal has been funded up to 87%. Request for a Revised Flash Appeal was
issued during the first week of February, On Feb 7, 2010, C/DRR submitted (prepared in collaboration with
D/DRA) a Revised Flash Appeal Proposal for 875,000.00 USD. The proposal is entitled: “Meteorological
and Hydrological Early Warnings and Services to Support Emergency Contingency Planning for Safety of
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Population and Early Recovery Activities During the 2010 Rainy and Hurricane seasons in Haiti (MarchDecember 2010).”
PDNA:
1. Government of Haiti officially approved the PNDA on Feb4, 2010, but requested that it be done (i) with
Government as lead, which means that the government will draft the TOR of the PDNA, (ii) to bypass the
PDNA planning mission originally scheduled from Feb 8 and go straight into a full-blown PDNA starting
Feb 10.
2. The Official First Draft of the PDNA Report is due March 8 and will feed into a pledging conference for
reconstruction of Haiti in April (dates TBD). (Please note that originally this meeting was scheduled for
March 22-23 in NYC, but has been be postponed to April)
3. C/DRR is representing WMO in UN/World Bank/EC PDNA process for Haiti and is working with the
lead UN PDNA coordinator (from UNDP). A package of materials from WMO to support PDNA was
prepared and sent to the lead UN coordinator of PDNA in Haiti and other PDNA focal points in the evening
of Feb 5, including a background report, attached to this briefing. C/DRR received confirmation from the
lead UN coordinator of PDNA that WMO is officially included in the PDNA and that assessments of the
National Met Service will be pursued.
4. Mr. Semelforte, Director of the National Meteorological Center of Haiti, has been designated as WMO
PDNA focal point in Haiti as well as his role as a government official from Haiti and will be contacted by the
UN team shortly).
5. Given the change in the date of the actual PDNA (from early March to Feb 10) and various logistical
challenges on the ground, the lead UN PDNA coordinator agreed with WMO proposal to have a top expert
available by third week of Fed to help review the outcomes and assist with drafting of the PDNA report.
6. The lead UN PDNA coordinator indicated that the proposal of having a technical team of WMO experts to
follow the PDNA mission to design the technical development of the Met Service is a good one. Their
report should feed into to the PDNA report and pledging if timing allows. Offers to provide experts from
national met services in the region would be welcome.
NEXT ISSUES:
1. Coordination of forecasting services in Haiti with the Haitian Met Center to ensure adequate and
consistent forecasts disseminated to Haitian decision-makers and the general public.
2. Coordination of the two Haiti Meetings (At the Hurricane Committee March 8-12, Bermuda, and at the
MH_EWS Workshop in Costa Rica, March 22-26, 2010)
3. Follow up with and support of UN Coordinators for Revised Flash Appeal and PDNA
4. Identification and confirmation of availability of a French/English Expert to support drafting of the PDNA
report (By Feb 20)
5. Initiation of the planning of the WMO technical Mission to Haiti after the PDNA mission is completed
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