Landslides are one of the most widespread and commonly occurring natural hazards. The occurrence of landslides may increase significantly due to uncontrolled land use development and human interfere into unstable slopes. In many countries, landslides cause substantial socio-economical losses.
The goal of a community-based early warning system is to empower individuals and communities to act in sufficient time and in appropriate ways to reduce the possibility of injuries, loss of life, and damage to property and the environment.
Landslide mitigation can be carried out both by structural and non-structural efforts. Structural mitigation includes adjustment of slope geometry, slope reinforcement and protection and improvement of drainage system, all of which can be costly. Relocating people is not always a practical alternative. Therefore the most effective disaster risk reduction can be achieved by non-structural mitigation by improving the community’s preparedness through an early warning system.
Demographic, social, economic, and cultural aspects are often left out in early warning systems. This standard offers guidance to promote the role of the community and social aspects in general. Training people to respond to warnings should be followed up by experts/researchers, and by decision-makers at local and national levels.
Key features of ISO 22327
The implementation of a community-based early warning system is consistent with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction of 2015-2030. The fourth priority of the framework emphasizes the improvement of preparedness in order to respond effectively to a disaster, by implementing a simple, low-cost early warning system and improving the dissemination of information about early warning of natural disasters at local, national, regional and global levels.
According to UN-ISDR (2006), a complete and effective early warning system consists of four interrelated key elements:
- risk knowledge,
- monitoring and warning service,
- dissemination and communication, and
- response capability.
What can you do?
This standard is in the final voting stage before being published as an international standard, and is available for review and comment until December 4, 2017. It has been submitted to ISO member countries for voting. You can help to shape the final published standard by contacting your National Standard Body and get access to the document and submit your comments.
Your comments will be forwarded to the mirror committee responsible for developing your national position and voting on the draft standard.