Natural Hazards and Climate Change in Kenya: Minimizing the Impacts on Vulnerable Communities Through Early Warning Systems - Reducing Disaster: Early Warning Systems for Climate Change - page 349

Fig. 19.1 ( a ) Rainfall distribution in Kenya (UNEP 2009 )

Early Warning System (FRIEWS) in effect (Otiende 2009 ) (see Fig. 19.2 ). The
Kenya Meteorological Department (KMD), 1 of the 191 members of World
Meteorological Organization (WMO), is a national actor in the fl ood early warning
system. The KMD runs a Stream fl ow Model (GeoSFM) to forecast fl oods in
Western Kenya using precipitation forecast, river gauge data, and other hydrological
data as inputs. With ICPAC support (using its advanced technology and forecasting
tools), the KMD generates products for weather and climate sensitive sectors. The
message products are sent out through media and also through other methods
including community radio installed in Budalangi, emails to all stakeholders,
Internet web page display, and direct emailing to the Bunyala DC Offi ce and Lake
Victoria North Water Resources Management Authority (LVNWRMA). Through
the Internet they are also involved in a collaborative platform that facilitates infor-
mation dissemination (Dulo et al. 2010 ).