Of late, disasters have wrecked havoc in Nepal, as floods, landslides and soil erosion are reported across the country. The latest was the flood in Jhapa which rendered 3,000 hectares of arable land barren for years to come, and the flood in Kamala River which killed at least seven people. Earlier this year, floods in Mahakali and Seti had destroyed homes and property worth millions in western Nepal.
People in these areas live in half-destroyed houses, and fear that even those may be taken away by fresh floods. In the past decade, landslides alone have killed more than 1,300 people in Nepal. There is nothing we can do to prevent natural disasters. While we can build embankments to contain floods and plant trees in the hope that they will strengthen soil, when disaster does strike, we can do little to ward it off. However, early warning systems can minimize the loss of lives and property. With its propensity for many kinds of disasters, Nepal is in dire need of a countrywide network of early warning systems. [break]
Early warning systems typically require coordination of local communities and government authorities responsible for monitoring weather. The government authorities alert a designated person or group about the impending disaster, after which the person relays the information to the community. Though there are variations based on the unique features of an area like geography, population density, and type of disaster expected, many early warning systems include drills where people rehearse how to convey information and how to evacuate.
These systems also include contingency plans to deal with emergencies like abrupt loss of electricity, communication, and other essentials. Disasters can often disorient people, leaving them with nothing to cope against sudden losses. For example, while most people run helter-skelter after disaster and further endanger themselves, there are also cases of poor people choosing to stay and guard their valuables—livestock or property—instead of moving to safety. Early warning systems can educate people on the extent of risks that disasters bring.
While earthquakes come without warning, some fledgling systems to warn people about floods are established in Nepal. The most recent example was in Bardiya, where the water level of Karnali was monitored through an electronic display board installed by the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology at the District Police Office. After the water level exceeded safe limits, the information was conveyed to the local population through community radio. Evacuation was carried out with the help of Nepal Army, Police, and Red Cross, preventing possible loss of lives and property.
The flood that swept the area later was judged to be a powerful one. Predicting landslides is harder than predicting floods, but educated guesses can still be made by monitoring the amount of rainfall an area is expected to get. The government needs to take the initiative to install similar networks of early warning systems for floods and landslides all over the country. Taking the local community into confidence and fostering a sense of collective ownership is of utmost importance for these systems to work.
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