On January 21, 2025, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan launched the Kerala Warnings, Crisis, and Hazard Management System (KaWaCHaM), a cutting-edge disaster warning initiative aimed at strengthening the state’s readiness for extreme weather events. The system integrates a range of modern technologies and strategies to enhance public safety and improve response times during emergencies.
Key Features of KaWaCHaM:
- Siren and Strobe Light Network: KaWaCHaM includes 126 strategically placed sirens with strobe lights across disaster-prone areas. These sirens are equipped with three different light signals—red, yellow, and orange—and loudspeakers that can reach up to 1.2 km, ensuring that alerts are visible and audible even in remote locations.
- Emergency Operation Centers (EOCs): The system links 93 Emergency Operation Centers via Virtual Private Network (VPN), allowing for seamless coordination between local authorities during crises.
- Data Integration: KaWaCHaM pulls real-time data from various weather networks and even social media platforms to provide accurate and fast alerts, ensuring timely warnings for extreme weather such as heavy rainfall, strong winds, and sea surges.
- Community Engagement: The system also focuses on community involvement by working closely with local volunteers, NGOs, and social media channels to ensure that vital information reaches the public quickly and effectively.
Following the inauguration, test sirens were activated across multiple locations, including Muttathara village office, Poovar Government VHSS, and Karikkakom Government HSS. The Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) reassured the public that these were only trial runs and to remain calm.
KaWaCHaM marks a significant step forward in Kerala’s disaster management framework, promising to enhance preparedness, improve communication, and ultimately save lives during natural disasters.
