The Intergovernmental Coordination Group for the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System (ICG/IOTWMS) has developed a number of documents outlining the goals and function of the tsunami warning system. Many of these documents are periodically updated to reflect the evolution of the system.
In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, two important documents including 1) Guidelines for Tsunami Warning Services, Evacuation and Sheltering and 2) Impacts on IOTWMS Monitoring Networks and Tsunami Service Providers have been published.
The IOTWMS Factsheet (2019) details the system's structure and substantial advancements since its establishment.
The Capacity Assessment of Tsunami Preparedness in the Indian Ocean (2018) provides a benchmark of the current status of the IOTWMS, identifies specific gaps and prioritises capacity development requirements at both the regional and national levels for strengthening the end-to-end tsunami warning and mitigation system. An overview for policy makers is provided in the Executive Summary.
The International Symposium on Lessons Learnt from the 2018 Tsunamis in Palu and Sunda Strait (2019) highlighted that tsunamis generated by a near-field, atypical sources (coastal subsidence, landslides and volcanic flank collapse) are very complex from an early warning perspective, and emphasized the urgent need to update hazard assessments, strengthen warning capabilities and enhance community preparedness to deal with such events.
The Summary Statement from the International Conference to Commemorate the 10th Anniversary of the Indian Ocean Tsunami (2015) addresses achievements, challenges, remaining gaps and policy perspectives in the IOTWMS 10 years after the Indian Ocean Tsunami.
The IOTWMS TSP Service Definition Document (2019) defines the advisory services to be provided by Tsunami Service Providers (TSPs) in the IOTWMS.
The IOTWMS Users Guide (2019) defines the TSP services delivered by the IOTWMS and how they are to be used by the National Tsunami Warning Centres (NTWCs).
The IOTWMS Implementation Plan (2011) specifies detailed requirements of the design and implementation of the tsunami warning and mitigation system for the Indian Ocean.
The IOTWMS Medium Term Strategy (2019) describes the basic directions towards continuously improving the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning & Mitigation System to meet stakeholder requirements during the period 2019-2024.
The Guidelines for Indian Ocean Tsunami Ready (IOTR) Programme provide the pilot programme's indicators, checklist, national recognition process and implementation plan.
Links to ICG/IOTWMS document lists are provided below:
- Working Group 1 on Tsunami Risk, Community Awareness and Preparedness
- Working Group 2 on Tsunami Detection, Warning, and Dissemination
- Regional Working Group for the North West Indian Ocean
- Task Team on Capacity Assessment of Tsunami Preparedness
- Task Team on Indian Ocean Wave 2020 (IOWave20)
- Reports from the UNESCAP funded Tsunami Risk Assessment and Tsunami Exercise Project
- Publications from the UNESCAP funded 1945 Makran Tsunami Project
Reports from the ICG, its Working Groups and other affiliated groups are available on the ICG meeting websites.