| Alerts | Coordination | About GDACS | |||||||||||||
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Global Disaster Alert and Coordination SystemSeptember 2009 OverviewThe Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System (GDACS) is a cooperation framework under the United Nations umbrella with the aim to consolidate and strengthen the network of providers and users of disaster information worldwide in order to provide reliable and accurate alerts and impact estimations after sudden-onset disasters and to improve the cooperation of international responders in the immediate aftermath of major natural, technological and environmental disasters. To date, GDACS has more than 9000 subscribers to automatic disaster alerts and users of the Virtual OSOCC, and has become an integral part of international disaster response to sudden-onset disasters. ObjectivesGDACS is designed to fill the critical information and coordination gap that usually occurs in the first phase after major sudden-onset disasters. To achieve this, GDACS aims at facilitating coordination and decision-making primarily among bilateral responders and the affected country though reliable and timely alert notifications, automatic impact estimations, and the provision of a platform for structured information exchange between responders and coordinators. ScopeGDACS services are activated at the forecast or occurrence of significant natural, technological, or environmental disasters. Disasters are considered significant when they have the potential to overwhelm the affected country’s response capacity and could result in the need for international assistance. GDACS covers the event throughout the response and relief phase, until the focus of international assistance shifts to rehabilitation and reconstruction. This usually covers a period of two to three weeks. GBACS main activities:
GDACS StructureGDACS Steering CommitteeGDACS is governed by a Steering Committee consisting of Chairman and Vice-Chairman, representatives from national or regional disaster management entities form all regions, GDACS information service providers and the GDACS Secretariat (OCHA). The purpose of the GDACS Steering Committee is to represent the interests of the international disaster response community by governing and overseeing the development of standardised disaster information procedures, tools and services, to coordinate information services, and to ensure sustainable support to the system. SecretariatThe GDACS Secretariat is located in the Emergency Relief Coordination Centre (ERCC) in the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Geneva. The main responsibility of the GDACS Secretariat is to coordinate the activities of GDACS service providers and to organise and support GDACS meetings and technical workshops. Users and StakeholdersGDACS is a network of disaster managers in disaster-prone and responding countries and disaster response organizations worldwide. GDACS MeetingsSteering Committee meetingThe GDACS Steering Committee meeting is held on an annual basis in conjunction with the GDACS Stakeholders meeting (see below). The GDACS Stakeholders meetingThe GDACS Stakeholders meeting is held on a yearly basis. The meeting is chaired by the Chairman of the GDACS Steering Committee. Working Group on disaster information standardsThe Working Group on Disaster Information Standards aims at developing Guidelines for information exchange in the immediate aftermath of major sudden-onset disasters that require international assistance. The purpose of the guidelines is to increase predictability and quality of information in order to facilitate operational planning and decision-making in involved countries and organizations. The guidelines will define responsibilities, expected timeframes and quality of operational information from the affected country and potential responders. This working group will discontinue after completion of its task. Working Group on maps and satellite imagesThe Working Group on Maps aims at developing procedures for cooperation among providers of maps and satellite-images to reduce overlap and duplication and ensuring optimal use of available capacity and expertise in this field. This working group will discontinue after completion of its task. |
Publications and Presentations
News and EventsFifth GDACS Stakeholders Meeting Fourth GDACS Stakeholders Meeting Third GDACS Stakeholders Meeting Second GDACS Stakeholders Meeting 21-22 March 2006, Geneva GDACS Technical Meeting (13-14 December 2005, Ispra) Data sourcesGDACS collects information on natural hazards from available public web sites. More on data sources. Participating organisationsFundingGDACS is financially supported by the European Commission Office for Humanitarian Aid (ECHO)
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Joint Initiative of the United Nations and the European Commission --
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