Vanuatu releases new cyclone map for season

Transcript

The Vanuatu Meteorological Service is trying to improve its dissemination of information by designing a new cyclone tracking map.

Cyclone season in the Pacific started this month, a season which is forecast to bring two to six cyclones to Vanuatu.

William Worwor from the Meteorological Service says as part of preparations for the season they held consultations about the quality of service during Cyclone Pam which earlier in the year.

WILLIAM WORWOR:  We have collected a lot of feedback, such as the department as well as the other stakeholders who are involved in disseminating that information to the community.  We need to work on infrastructure or putting in place systems that will ensure that information reaches the community.  At the moment, while people were being prepared, it is very important that information reaches out to these communities.  Not only some communities but every community of Vanuatu in time so that they can prepare themselves for any disaster that are coming to affect them, having access to information but very importantly, using those information for preparedness.

HILAIRE BULE:  I understand that your department has come up with a more understandable tracking map.  Tell us more about your new tracking map.

WW:  The tracking map is one very important tool that we are using to track cyclones and the communities are using to identify where the cyclone is and the direction of movement and the speed of movement.  After some consultations and the feedback that we have caught from the communities or the different stakeholders that we are working with, we are revising the Vanuatu Tropical Cyclone map and it will be finalised very soon to be in place.  We have added in a lot more valuable information to the cyclone tracking map.  Such information like important contact numbers for the department as well as the NDMO or the police.  Also, very importantly we have tried to capture some real experience included into the tracking map.  For example, the different wind categories of a cyclone.  Instead of just putting numbers, what's that wind category in knots or kilometres per hour, we have also included a picture of possible damage that wind may cause around our environment.  Not only in land but also on the sea.  That information we have also tried to include to make sure people if they have access to that tropical cyclone map it's more complete.  There is other information other than just the tracking map alone.  That information has not only come from us.  We would like to acknowledge all the feedback that all the people and our partners have provided so we could improve that tropical cyclone tracking map.