Only those who pay – get the life-saving warning

Only those who pay – get the life-saving warning

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7591668_sThe state and the military are trying to build an appropriate response in the event of a potential threat. One of the most important elements regarding any threat is the ability to provide an alert. An example of this can be found in IDF warning systems against ballistic threats, the ‘Green Pine’ RADAR connected with Arrow missiles or the MMR (Multi-Mission RADAR) of the ‘Iron Dome’ system. However, not all threats in the country are of a military nature, alerts to the threats of a possible natural disaster such as earthquakes which can cause severe damage are also needed.

In Japan, for an instance, the Meteorological Institute (JMA) is responsible for monitoring earthquakes and has deployed more than 4,200 land and sea sensors providing early warnings regarding the occurrence of an earthquake. The system itself is connected to TV and telephone systems and provides an automatic warning to the general public of the severity of the earthquake. In March 2011, this system provided the Japanese public with a warning that allowed residents in many areas to leave their buildings and to reach open spaces.

In Israel, the Israel Geophysical Institute is the government company responsible for posting warnings of earthquakes. However, due to budget problems and lack of skilled personnel, the institute has only several dozen sensors located throughout Israel to provide an early warning. Also, the warnings are not forwarded directly to the public but only through the media. That is, the warning will be issued after a shock is felt throughout the country. The Institute, in cooperation with the Inter-Ministerial Committee for earthquake preparedness in Israel, is working on the establishment of a situation-room that could provide semi-automatic and fast early warnings to the Israeli public in the event of a strong earthquake.

The Israeli Institute of Oceanographic and Limnological (the study of fresh water bodies) Research (IOLR), is a government company engaged in recent years in establishing a warning system against tsunamis off the coast of Israel. The System is partially active today, and although the cost of completion is relatively low and has great potential in preventing death, the government has not yet approved the full budget.

Both of the above mentioned systems are currently used primarily for research and study, and do not provide a warning to the public. Just recently, o February 20th, 2013, the Israeli government has amended its decision from 2012 for the establishment of an earthquake warning system (the “Tru’a” (fanfare) system) and a tsunami warning system (“Mai’m Adirim” (huge water) system). According to this decision, “Tru’a” system is scheduled to be operational in three years.

Several years ago, Beeper Communications, began a large project for the establishment of a “Seismologic Fence”, in order to provide its customers with a warning of an earthquake in Israel. In fact, the fence consists of 150 sensors and detectors located along the Great Syrian-African and Yagur rifts. The system is able to detect an earthquake and send an immediate alert to all subscribers to the service in Israel, and through it to provide them with sufficient time to reach a safe place (whether outside or indoors). According to the company’s data – the system can provide early warning of up to 80 seconds, focusing on the location of the earthquake in relation to the location of the customer.

Beyond the fence sensors, Beeper has dozens of sensors deployed throughout the country and sells its warning system to government offices, schools, police stations, regional companies and other organizations.    The network of alarms works in a way that each sensor that discovers an earthquake sends notice of the occurrence to other stations, which in turn allows for the issuance of a warning to its subscribers in constantly improving alert times.  The system works quickly regardless of where the focus of the earthquake is, at sea or at the Syrian-African Rift. The installation cost of a detector is approximately 20,000 Israeli Shekels (service not included).

It is understandable that there are two warning systems against earthquakes operating in Israel today.  The first one, belonging to the state is limited, with no real capability of providing a warning to the public in relevant time. The second system is a private one, which is more modern and provides warnings to its customers for a fee.

It was argued that there can be a situation in which citizens receive different protection packages because economic capabilities of the local authorities in which they live. In this case you can see another example from one level there are the most serious threats to the state, the alarm event will be given only to those who can afford to pay. IDF Home Front Command, in turn, is trying to complete the construction of the “national message” and “personal Message’ systems for alerting the state residents of various threats. Is it not right to integrate such a capability into the  national alert system?!

Beyond this early warning system, Beeper has warning systems and other communication means that are is use of most of the security forces and emergency agencies in Israel, such as a “red color” and the “gatekeeper” to remotely open the public shelters. a situation is created where a private company has become the ” Franchisee” of Israel’s warnings and in this way it can provide its customers with critical information and exclusive services. An example can be find in the combined Home Front Command’s alert warning system against earthquakes.

In the Era of increasingly cyber-attacks and cyber threats – is it the right thing that a private company holds such a critical junction of information? If such a cyber-attack succeeds, the State of Israel could lose much of its early warning capabilities against attacks and other threats.

By Tomer Simon, MPH

Disaster and emergency preparedness expert

The Israeli website for disaster and emergency preparedness