Disaster warning system launched |07 November 2005

It will cover such eventualities as tsunamis, cyclones or flooding from heavy rains or resultant landslides.

“It comprises three levels, namely ‘Yellow,’ ‘Orange’ and ‘Red.’”
“Yellow will be an advisory telling residents that a disaster is likely to hit and that they should be on the look out and also listen out for possible subsequent upgrading of the warning or act on what they see in their immediate surroundings,” Wills Agricole, a member of a disaster preparedness committee said as he launched it at the International Conference Centre on Friday November 4.

“Colour ‘Orange’ will be associated with warning Level One which should tell people that their lives, property or both are in danger, and ‘Red,’ for warning Level Two denoting an even greater threat,” he said.

He said the warnings would be issued through radio and television and SMS (short messaging system) and that in the event of a tsunami, people would be expected to escape to higher grounds, but during strong winds, cyclones or flooding, they would be advised to shelter in churches.

“The church buildings on the islands are particularly strong and the church leaders have agreed to offer their cooperation,” he said, adding that most of the churches are reasonably high above sea level and would not be easily affected by tidal surges.

He said that although Seychelles is situated away from the cyclone belt, there have been instances when winds have reached speeds of 120 kilometres per hour.

“These were strong enough to uproot trees and rip off roofs and bring down houses as we saw happen on Praslin,” he said.

The warnings will emanate from the National Meteorological Services who will alert the National Disaster Secretariat (NDS) and simultaneously, the police and the fire brigade.

For non-meteorological disasters like aircraft accidents, oil spills or terrorist attacks, information will normally be received by the police first who will relay details of the nature of the disaster to the NDS who will alert emergency support services like the Seychelles Red Cross, Land Transport Division, the fire brigade or concerned ministries like that of Health.

“The NDS cannot, however, advise the President to declare a national disaster. The National Disaster Committee has to convene and decide, and only this committee can advise the Head of Sate to declare the emergency,” the director general of the national disaster secretariat, Michel Vielle, said.

He said that depending on the severity of the disaster, the message can also be sent directly to Airtel and Cable and Wireless mobile telephone subscribers through SMS (short messaging system).

He said work is being done to see that the country has a siren system soon.
Disaster warning system launched.

The launching took place before nearly 200 officials involved with disaster preparedness who included district administrators, who were requested to inform residents in their respective areas about the new warning system.