New Projects to Enable Communities in Face of Floods

WMO has started the implementation of the Early Warning Systems for Floods (EWS-F) and the Flash Flood Guidance System (FFGS) projects to strengthen regional Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems (MHEWS), especially flood resilience. EWS-F is a new project that aims to strengthen the capacities of WMO Members to provide early warning for riverine, urban and similar floods and related hazards, such as landslides and droughts, by enabling early action to reduce adverse impacts. It will be implemented in six Pacific countries, four Central America and Caribbean countries and four Southwest Indian Ocean countries. FFGS, which hones skill to improve the delivery of timely, accurate flash flood warnings, is already operational in 72 countries and will be expanded to over 30 new countries as part of the new project phase.

The EWS-F and FFGS projects launched in stakeholder workshops held in June in Guatemala for Central America and the Caribbean and in Rwanda for Central Africa, and in July in the Seychelles for Southwest Indian Ocean and Fiji for the Pacific. The workshops outlined the planned activities, which the participating countries committed to implementing. Since, WMO has been working with the National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) to kickstart capacity assessments to gain a thorough understanding of institutional and operational set-ups and of technical needs and gaps that need to be addressed to establish functional and effective early warning systems for floods.

The projects, which align with call for Early Warnings for All by 2027, are both being implemented with financial support from the United States Agency for International Development/Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (USAID/BHA). Ultimately, the projects will enable communities to better prepare for and respond to pending hydrological hazards, saving lives around the world.

The initial planning meeting for Central America and the Caribbean in Guatemala in June