Adaptation in the Himalayas: Knowledge, Action and Results

Community-based flood early warning systems

which can detect rising water levels – a ground-breaking but affordable technology which was jointly developed by ICIMOD and Sustainable Eco Engineering (SEE). But a monitoring and warning service alone is not sufficient for ensuring long- term success; the CB-FEWS approach also includes capacity training on risk knowledge, dissemination and response action by communities. The pilot approach in Assam, India, has received widespread praise from local communities and other concerned agencies (including local governments) for its effective outcomes. During the flood season, the system not only helped downstream communities by informing them of impending flooding, but also helped district authorities to deploy flood rescue teams in a timely fashion. In total, 46 villages and approximately 21,000 people have benefited from the scheme in Assam. For example, during the 2013 flood season, the system installed in the Jiadhal River successfully informed community members in Dihiri of impending floods, helping them save assets, including cattle and pigs, worth approximately US$ 3,300.

Flash floods are one of the most common forms of natural disasters in the HKH region. Their sudden and unpredictable nature allows little time to react, with devastating impacts on infrastructure and human lives. They commonly occur in isolated mountain catchments, where the central government’s reach is limited or even non-existent. For this reason, it is essential that mountain communities are able to manage the risks from floods themselves. Individual households often have strategies to minimize the risks, but these individual efforts can be much more effective if they are coordinated. The Community-Based Flood Early Warning System (CB-FEWS) is an integrated approach developed and piloted through HICAP in Assam, together with the NGO, Aranayak, and the Assam State Disaster Management Authority. CB-FEWS provides the tools, technology and capacity necessary for communities to detect and respond appropriately to flood emergencies. One of the central components of the system is a reliable instrument

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