Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-r5fsc Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-28T02:52:54.069Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Analysis of the Potential of IT System Support in Early Warning Systems: Mitigating Flood Risk in Poland

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2019

Krzysztof Goniewicz Open the ORCID record for Krzysztof Goniewicz [Opens in a new window]  and
Frederick M. Burkle Jr. Open the ORCID record for Frederick M. Burkle Jr. [Opens in a new window]
Krzysztof Goniewicz*
Affiliation:
Department of Security Studies, Polish Air Force Academy, Deblin, Poland
Frederick M. Burkle Jr.
Affiliation:
Harvard Humanitarian Initiative, T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Cambridge, MassachusettsUSA
*
Correspondence: Krzysztof Goniewicz Department of Security Studies Polish Air Force Academy Dywizjonu 303 street, no 35 Post code: 08-521 Deblin, Poland E-mail: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Nowadays, extreme weather and atmospheric conditions are becoming more frequent and more intense. It seems obvious that together with climate change, the vulnerability of the public and of individual regions to the risks of various types of natural hazards also increases. This would increase the importance of organization concerning potential measures to protect against these extraordinary events, and to prepare for reducing their ramifications.

One such initiative is the creation of an early warning system for inhabitants of a given area of a country, to help guard against the extraordinary threat associated with a natural disaster; especially floods. The creation of such a system is aimed at increasing public safety and limiting losses caused by the occurrence of natural, technological, and synergistic hazards. Particular emphasis during the construction of a current system is placed on supporting flood risk management, which is aimed at increasing the safety of citizens and reducing losses caused by the occurrence of flooding in Poland. This would be possible by the identification of areas threatened by flooding throughout the country, and then limiting economic expansion in these areas.

Ultimately, the project aims to consolidate information regarding hazardous events and gather them in a professional Information Technology (IT) system, using an integrated database and a modern module for disseminating information to end users. The system is to provide access to this information for both the administration and the individual citizen.

This article presents the potential of a so called “IT System for the Country’s Protection Against Extreme Hazards,” which is currently being developed in Poland, with particular emphasis on reducing the risks related to natural disasters and minimizing the problems of crisis management in Poland. This article is also aimed at opening discussions and creating a basis for the exchange of information from countries implementing similar solutions, especially neighboring countries, with which joint action could be undertaken.

Keywords

disastersearly warning systemsfloodhazards
Type
Brief Report
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 34 , Issue 5 , October 2019 , pp. 563 - 565
Copyright
© World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 2019 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Wypych, A, Ustrnul, Z, Henek, E. Meteorological hazards-visualization system for national protection against extreme hazards for Poland. Meteorology Hydrology and Water Management. Research and Operational Applications. 2014;2(1):37–42.Google Scholar
Szewrański, S, Świąder, M, Kazak, JK, Tokarczyk‐Dorociak, K, van Hoof, J. Socio‐environmental vulnerability mapping for environmental and flood resilience assessment: the case of ageing and poverty in the City of Wrocław, Poland. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management. 2018;14(5):592–597.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Center for Social and Economic Research. http://www.case-research.eu/en/. Accessed January 11, 2019.Google Scholar
Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Poland. https://www.mf.gov.pl/en. Accessed November 25, 2018.Google Scholar
Młyński, D, Petroselli, A, Walega, A. Flood frequency analysis by an event-based rainfall-runoff model in selected catchments of southern Poland. Soil and Water Research. 2018;13(3):170–176.Google Scholar
IT system of the Country’s Protection Against Extreme Hazards. http://www.isok.gov.pl. Accessed December 12, 2018.Google Scholar
Polish Government Centre for Security. https://rcb.gov.pl/en. Accessed August 9, 2018.Google Scholar
Institute of Meteorology and Water Management – National Research Institute. http://www.imgw.pl/en/. Accessed August 15, 2018.Google Scholar
Kaufmann, M, Lewandowski, J, Choryński, A, Wiering, M. Shock events and flood risk management: a media analysis of the institutional long-term effects of flood events in the Netherlands and Poland. Ecology and Society. 2016;21(4):51.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bryndal, T, Franczak, P, Kroczak, R, Cabaj, W, Kołodziej, A. The impact of extreme rainfall and flash floods on the flood risk management process and geomorphological changes in small Carpathian catchments: a case study of the Kasiniczanka river (Outer Carpathians, Poland). Natural Hazards. 2017;88(1):95–120.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kowalik, PJ. Water management in the Vistula delta (Poland). Meteorology Hydrology and Water Management. Research and Operational Applications. 2016;4(1):47–52.Google Scholar
Matczak, P, Lewandowski, J, Chorynski, A, Szwed, M, Kundzewicz, ZW. “Stability and change of flood risk governance in Poland.” In: Flood Risk in the Upper Vistula Basin Switzerland: Springer, Cham; 2016:381–398.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rucinska, D. Spatial distribution of flood risk and quality of spatial management: case study in Odra Valley, Poland. Risk Analysis. 2015;35(2):241–251.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Działek, J, Biernacki, W, Fiedeń, Ł, Listwan-Franczak, K, Franczak, P. Universal or context-specific social vulnerability drivers–understanding flood preparedness in southern Poland. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction. 2016;19:212–223.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Działek, J, Biernacki, W, Konieczny, R, et al. “Planning Documents as a Source of Information About Flood Risk.” In: Understanding Flood Preparedness. Switzerland: Springer, Cham. 2019:115–126.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Goniewicz, K, Burkle, FM Jr. Challenges in implementing Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction in Poland. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019;16(14):E2574.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Goniewicz, K, Burkle, F. Disaster early warning systems: the potential role and limitations of emerging text and data messaging mitigation capabilities. Disaster Med Public Health Prep. 2019;1–4.CrossRefGoogle Scholar