In order to coordinate efforts on the implementation of various activities under the Disaster Risk Reduction Component to better support the socio-economic development process in the Typhoon Committee Area and to help accomplish the DRR related goals and objectives in the Strategic Plan, the Typhoon Committee has established the Working Group on Disaster Risk Reduction (WGDRR) with the following Terms of Reference and operational modalities.

The WORKING GROUP on DISASTER RISK REDUCTION (DRR) of the Typhoon Committee promote cooperation among the Members in the implementation of activities under the Disaster Risk Reduction Component of the Committee’s Strategic Plan with the aim to support the socio-economic development process and enhance cooperation among the Members in all three components. Towards this end, the WGDRR is expected to advise and assist the Committee in:

• Identifying priority issues and areas of cooperation in the Disaster Risk ReductionComponent;
• Promoting and facilitating the exchange of experiences and knowledge on latest developments and techniques related to the above issues and areas;
• Coordinating and implement priority activities and programmes of the Committee aiming at strengthening capacity of the Members in Disaster Risk Reduction;
• Mobilizing resources to carry out priority activities of the Committee related to the Disaster Risk Reduction Component;
• Promoting measures for more effective cooperation with other components of work of the Committee, including the development of a conceptual framework on multi-hazard early warning systems and public out-reach programmes;
• Reporting overall progress in the implementation of the DRR component of the Strategic Plan; and
• Recommending to the Committee priority areas, programmes and activities for cooperation in Disaster Risk Reduction research by related experts of the Members.

ACTIVITIES of the WORKING GROUP

The establishment an efficient data sharing tool of various tropical cyclone related disasters for TC members was agreed by the Members with the objective to acquire accurate and rapid system to assess damages through damage predictions, damage surveys, and recovery support functions. The members also agreed to establish an integrated information system to share disaster data and information within the TC region. The DRR implemented its first project in 2006 and established a website (www.tcdis.org)called the “Typhoon Committee Disaster Information System” (TCDIS). The TCDIS contributes to tropical-cyclone- related disaster risk reduction in the region though promoting a timely and efficient way of tropical-cyclone- related disaster information communication via its website. The TCDIS is developed as a platform (i) to exchange the disaster information and experience of members, (ii) for coordination, integration, capacity building, communication, and outreach, and (iii) for identification of hazard and resource mobilization. The system would be able to help decision makers take informed actions during emergency situations of an approaching tropical cyclone. The TCDIS can also be used as a platform for members to share disaster data, knowledge and experiences, good practices, and other information related to tropical cyclone disaster risk reduction.

With this active support from TC members, the Republic of Korea has designed and launched the Typhoon Committee Disaster Information System (TCDIS) containing members’ disaster warning systems and disaster management systems for tropical-cyclone-related disaster As first proposed in the 3rd meeting of WGDRR in 2007, the Republic of Korea is now working on a more effective next-generation disaster information management system named “WEB-GIS based TCDIS”. The WEB-GIS based TCDIS was developed to further promote and coordinate the planning and implementation of measures required for minimizing the loss of life and material damage caused by typhoons in Asia and the Pacific. This next-generation disaster information and management system is required as

(i) each member will have growing interest on the economic and environmental aspects of the damages from disasters which may occur with higher frequency and occur across boundaries;
(ii) cooperation of each members based on information prepared in normal situation is much cheaper;
(iii) the TC will be the main source of climate change information;
(iv) establishment of standards for GIS in each region which is being built by PCGIAP (www.pcgiap.org).

Based o the TCDIS System the following system was designed :

• Disaster Information System
• Disaster Management System
• Early Warning System
• Expert Mission