Regional Integrated Multi-Hazard Early Warning System (RIMES)

• The Regional Integrated Multi-Hazard Early Warning System (RIMES), an UN-registered agency will collaborate with Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA) to strengthen its quality, prediction ability and response capacity.
• RIMES will provide technical support to OSDMA regarding analysis of data to be generated through automatic weather stations being installed in all the gram panchayats, validation of the forecast, early warning and preparedness for lightening, heat wave, flood, draught and Tsunami.
• It would enhance the warning response capacities of the OSDMA by imparting specialized expert training. It will also help to develop a one-stop risk management system for all OSDMA needs- integration of multiple data database/servers.

About RIMES:

• RIMES was established on 30 April 2009 to provide user-relevant early warning services to its Member States and others. It is governed by a Council, composed of heads of National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) presently chaired by India. Council decisions are carried out by the RIMES Secretariat, which is currently Maldives. RIMES programs and projects are implemented by the Program Unit, which also operates and manages the regional early warning facility, located near Bangkok, Thailand.
• The RIMES Council established a Ministerial Consortium for obtaining highest-level political endorsement and guidance for mobilizing resources to fund Master Plan implementation and RIMES delivery of core services. The Ministerial Consortium comprises of Ministers that have purview of the NMHS or national scientific and technical agency that generate multi-hazard early warning information in RIMES Member States.
• RIMES Consortium of Ministers first met in New Delhi in June 2012 and the present Ministerial meeting was the Second. Twenty-three countries were represented in the conference today, with participation of Ministers and Ambassadors, and Senior Officials. The nations represented were Afghanistan, Armenia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Comoros, India, Lao PDR, Maldives, Mongolia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, Pakistan, Philippines, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam.

By: Vishal