Early Warning System in the Czech Republic

As the most dangerous type of natural disaster in the Czech Republic or in Central Europe in general has always been flood the Early Warning System used at the end of 1999 year is demonstrated on this kind of disaster.

According to the Czech law a responsible body for flood warning in CR has been the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute (CHMI) in co-operation with River Basin Boards (5 in the country - each being responsible for main river or its part). However, flood warnings are passed further further with the help of the Main Office of Civil Defense and the Main Center of Fire Protection Service to other levels like communities, districts and other administrative bodies in accordance with flood planning and under a supervision of Flood Authorities (see Fig.1).

Fig. 1: Flood Forecasting and Warning System in the Czech Republic

Central Flood Authority operated by the Ministry of Environment is always warned directly from CHMI. It can be seen that the system ensures delivery of warning up to local levels where an newly built Integrated Rescue System (IRS) will be used with an advantage.

As a new law for Crisis Management and Integrated Rescue System has been in the final stage of preparation before approval by the parliament some changes in the early warning derived from this law will appear in the middle of 2000 year e.g. Flood Authorities will become under certain condition integral parts of crisis staffs at all levels and also main responsibility for all kind of critical situations on the state level will be transferred to the Ministry of Interior.

The main purpose of the flood warning and forecasting system is forecasting of flood activity at various levels of flood danger with a sufficient lead time on rivers in the Czech Republic. Forecasts and warnings are used for timely information of flood authorities, River Board dispatchers, property owners and also for warning of population and institutions responsible for people safety. However, in the urgent cases of flood danger and necessary to warn population in regions very quickly warnings from CHMI can be passed directly to people by means of public radio, television, Internet and other media. This possibility has been included in agreements between CHMI and above mentioned media. Organization of flood forecasting and warning service in CHMI involving Central Forecasting (CFO) and 6 Regional Forecasting (RFO) Offices is shown in Fig.2.

Fig. 2: Integrated Flood Forecasting and Warning System in CHMI

This integrated Flood Forecasting and Warning System operated by CHMI (national hydrometeorological service) is based on a multi-sensor observation input (precipitation, river flow etc.) containing modern observational instruments like weather radars and satellites. Moreover, the system will use routinely numerical weather models to be able to forecast heavy precipitation and consequent floods with longer lead time. Very important is also hydrological part utilizing hydrological models and potentially GIS images in the last stage. Development of hydrometeorological part of the system has been coordinated with activities of River Basin Boards and also in a co-operation with specialists from other countries especially USA, Denmark and Netherlands.

The new system has been under stepwise development and will be finished within 2 years and will involve or changes and amendments in control and competencies connected with forthcoming new law for crisis management and IRS.

Similar Early Warning System has also been applied to other hydrometeorological risks (severe storms, frosts and other weather extremes) and also in the case of predictions and warnings for smog situations. The Czech Republic has also built a special warning system used in the case of nuclear accidents - in this case the State Office for Nuclear Safety has been the highest competent authority. The system utilizes results of a continuous measurement radioactivity network together with predictions of trajectories and contamination dispersion. Results of radioactivity measurements and also warnings have been continuously disseminated to neighboring countries.

Finally, it is necessary to mention another important factor - training of population to react properly under emergency situations like floods. According to experience from the last large flood in 1997 year the lack of training and poor knowledge of people about proper behavior and response under flood conditions had a strong influence on number of victims during this event.