Situation report issued by NDMO Vanuatu This report covers the period from 10 March 2015 Highlights Tropical Cyclone Pam Cat 3 enters Vanuatu grid at 8:00 on 11 March 2013. The Vanuatu Met Services has now raised a Cyclone Warning for Torba, Sanma, Penama and Malampa Provinces with a Cyclone Advisory in place for the rest of the country. The Vanuatu Met Services is maintaining Marine Wind Warning for all high sea and coastal areas throughout the country. Affected Population: 234,023( 2009 National census) Situation Overview Currently, 1 Category 3 Cyclone Pam is slow moving in a generally south-southwestly direction at about 8 km/hr and intensifying. At 5:00pm local time today, Severe Tropical Cyclone PAM was located at 11.3 degrees South 169.4 degrees east. This is about 360 km northeast of the Banks and 450 KM north-northeast of Maewo (VMGD, 2015). Models are continuing to show more consensus. However, there is still some critical divergence on how close the track will be to the east of Vanuatu. Any westward shift in direction would dramatically increase the risk to Vanuatu as the storm passes off to east. For all of Vanuatu, but especially for the eastern-most islands and for islands in the Central and South of the country, this is a situation that must be very closely monitored, as even slight variations in track, intensity and forward speed can make an enormous difference to the threat and damage scenario The Vanuatu National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) advised people on 11 March 2015 1 VMGD Tropical Cyclone Warning, March 11, 2015
Vanuatu NDMO, Cyclone Pam Situation Report No. 1 2 that Yellow Alert is now in effect for TORBA, SANMA, PENAMA and MALAMPA provinces. The blue alert is now issued for Shefa and Tafea. Food Security and Agriculture Food Security Cluster activities to date: - advice for food crop, cash crop and livestock farmers has been provided to Provincial Agriculture Officers and NGOs (in Bislama) for preparedness activities. A crop calendar has been included, so stakeholders are aware of which crops will be ready for early harvest during preparedness activities. This has also been shared with NDMO for inclusion in radio messaging. - the messages were played on FM 104 on Tanna on Wednesday and will also be broadcast on Thursday morning. - the Agriculture Officer on Tanna has arranged a gathering of all stakeholders to discuss mitigation plans for farmers. - the Acting Agriculture Officer in Malampa is meeting with the provincial authority on Lakatora Thursday to commence preparedness actions for farmers. - GIZ have begun contacting their 350 volunteers to find out who can assist the cluster during cyclone response - World Animal Protection has advised they have staff arriving in Vanuatu early next week. WASH The cluster met on Tuesday, 10 March and has: Confirmed their NFI list. Confirmed contact lists. Uploaded Rapid Assessment forms to mobile phones. They looked at the lessons learned from TC Lusi and have noted that the delay before data collection commenced was too long. Constraints: One challenge identified is the lack of human resources for response in some provinces. WASH to send a copy of NFI list to Gender and Protection Cluster to provide recommendations regarding dignity kits Gender and Protection The Cluster met Wednesday 11 th of March 2015 morning and has: Revised the assessment format and translated forms into Bislama. Discussed materials that can be taken on assessment including IEC and dignity items. Identified who from the cluster could be deployed.
Vanuatu NDMO, Cyclone Pam Situation Report No. 1 3 Logistics Current Response: List of evacuation centres are being updated and will be distributed when confirmed. List of assets and logistics resources is being continually updated, including list of commercial assets and providers. Constraints: Aviation assets may be significantly reduced in the event of a severe cyclone, which will require additional assets to be resourced regionally and from FRANZ partners. There is expected to be a significant gap between need and resources immediately following any category of cyclone, we are preparing to request support regionally from donors. 1 Total number of helicopters currently on standby to assist with response phase. General Coordination National Level Coordination: National Emergency Operation Centre (NEOC) was stood up on 11 March 2013 at 13:00 hrs. Brief from Director General, Department of Climate Change and Director Vanuatu Meteo and Geohazard Department. NDMO Operations Meeting was held on 11 March 2015. NDMO advised all Provincial Secretary Generals to activate Provincial Disaster Committees (PDC) and activate Provincial Disaster Coordination Centres, 11 March 2015. NDMO sent two NDMO Provincial Officers from the National NDMO Office back to provincial offices in Malampa and Sanma to strengthen the coordination. FRANZ Partners Briefing by NDMO 11 March 2015. OCHA ROP Information Officer to support NDMO. National Disaster Committee briefing by NDMO is scheduled for 12 March 2015 The following Coordination Meetings were held: Logistics Cluster Meeting, 9 March 2015. WASH Cluster Meeting, 10 March 2015. Vanuatu Humanitarian Team Meeting, 10 March 2015. Heads if Agencies, 11 March 2015. Inter-Cluster Meeting, 11 March 2015. Protection Cluster Meeting, 11 March 2015. Food and Agriculture Cluster Meeting, 10 March 2015.
Vanuatu NDMO, Cyclone Pam Situation Report No. 1 4 Provincial Level Coordination: Torba Province: Provincial Disaster Committee (PDC) has convened three meetings so far, and is now preparing for the activation of the Provincial Emergency Operation Centre (PEOC). Torba Province has experienced strong winds yesterday, Tuesday, 10 March, but the strength of winds had since decreased by Wednesday 11 March. Storm surge reported along the cost of Sola Vanua Lava. Some families leaving along the cost of Sola Area has been evacuated to the Hospital and Arep Junior Secondary School. A full community (Name and Number of families to be confirmed) on Mota Island has been evacuated to a Primary school close by last night. Malampa Province Provincial Disaster Committee (PDC) was held 16:00 hrs 11 March 2015 Appointed working group to coordinate cyclone response. Reps: Education PEO Provincial Education Officer. Public Works Division Manager. Provincial Health Manager. Provincial Agriculture Extension Officer. Provincial Cooperative Manager. Malampa Custom Land Officer. Actions of the Malampa PDC currently underway: Health Department in Malampa allocated few facilities to be used for evacuation. Education Officer has identified list of schools that can be used as Emergency Evacuation Centres. Activate Provincial Emergency Operation Centre (PEOC) at 17:30 hrs 11 March 2015. Inspector Police Malampa is the Controller for the Malampa PEOC. The location for the PEOC is Police Station at Lakatoro. 4 Officers will be manning the PEOC on 24 hrs basis, starting from 18:00 hrs. Mobilised private car owners to use for evacuation should the need arise. Provincial Government allocated emergency fund to cover the cost of communication and fuel.
Vanuatu NDMO, Cyclone Pam Situation Report No. 1 5 Sanma Province Provincial Emergency Operation Centre (PEOC) activated at 18:0 0 hrs 11 March 2015. Emergency vehicles identified and on standby Evacuation sites identified Recommendations: 1. All Clusters are asked to share information with NDMO on humanitarian situation, activities now underway and on forward planning as well as key gaps. 2. Contributions towards Sitrep to be sent daily by 13:00 hrs to VHT with copies to NDMO Planning Officer, Zoe Ayong zayong@vanuatu.gov.vu and DM Adviser, Wojciech Dabrowka Wojciech.Dabrowka@dfat.gov.au