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Kerala Warnings, Crisis and Hazard Management System (KaWaCHaM)
📢 Tech-Driven Safety: Kerala Strengthens Its Disaster Preparedness Network


⚙️ System Launch & Purpose

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is set to unveil the KaWaCHaM system — a state-of-the-art disaster warning and crisis management system.
Designed by the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA), with support from the NDMA and World Bank, KaWaCHaM is Kerala’s most ambitious step yet towards real-time climate resilience and public safety.


🚨 Alert Infrastructure

  • 126 Sirens: Equipped with strobe lights, color-coded indicators (🔴 Red, 🟠 Orange, 🟡 Yellow)
  • 8 loudspeakers per siren, covering a 1.2 km radius
  • 93 Emergency Operation Centres linked through dedicated VPN for fast communication
  • Alerts cover:
    • ⛈️ Heavy Rain
    • 🌊 Sea Surges
    • 💨 Strong Winds
    • 🌪️ Cyclonic conditions

🏢 Installation Strategy

  • Sirens placed on government buildings and schools in vulnerable zones
  • Mounted 13–15 meters high for maximum reach
  • Public testing to take place on launch day — citizens are advised not to panic during siren tests.

🧠 Data Integration & Monitoring

  • Weather data, satellite feeds, hydrology models, and social media monitoring power the system’s back-end.
  • Ensures faster decision-making, accurate alerts, and community awareness.

🏘️ Shelter & Safety Network

  • 20,000 buildings registered as emergency shelters
  • Capable of housing 4 lakh people
  • Includes 17 specialised shelters for vulnerable groups (elderly, disabled, etc.)

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Community Involvement

  • Training programs for local volunteers, NGOs, and civil society groups
  • Integration with WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter for neighbourhood-based alerts and outreach
  • Enables last-mile connectivity during crisis

🧪 Pilot Mode & Future Vision

  • Initial one-year pilot to test and refine operations
  • Flood forecasting system and landslide early warning modules in development
  • Impact-based forecasting under planning for tailored evacuation and mitigation strategies

KaWaCHaM stands as a model for climate-smart governance, merging tech, policy, and people to build a safer Kerala.

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