The Huddersfield and ITB team have also been exploring the impact on tsunami warning services, evacuation, and sheltering during COVID-19. They developed a survey instrument in conjunction with Working Group 1 Tsunami Risk, Community Awareness and Preparedness of the Intergovernmental Coordination Group for the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning & Mitigation System (ICG/IOTWMS) of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO.
This survey is being conducted to better understand current national, regional and local responses to COVID-19, which may differ depending upon a number of conditions, such as the phase of the pandemic, transmission in the community, demographics and response capabilities. The survey is also looking to understand the uptake of the Guidelines for Tsunami Warning Services, Evacuation, and Sheltering during COVID-19, which were issued by the ICG/IOTWMS in 2020. The survey is looking at national and subnational responses in Indonesia, and also provide a basis for comparison with the other 27 member states of IOTWMS. 11 countries have already responded to the survey and we are hoping to increase response rates before reporting the findings at ICG/IOTWMS Working Group 1 on Tsunami Risk, Community Awareness and Preparedness during the ICG/IOTWMS-XIII meeting, May 2022, Indonesia.