Standard operating procedure for flood early warning system in Nepal

The main objective of the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for a Flood Early Warning System (FEWS) is to develop simplified sustainable instructions that define the roles and responsibilities of major stakeholders as well as community members.

Since bottom-up approaches are limited due to Nepal’s existing infrastructural arrangements, the SOP aims to ensure the involvement of local communities in all phases of FEWS development and implementation. Community members play a particularly important role during the delineation of vulnerable zones. Community-based disaster management units are particularly helpful in identifying vulnerable areas and evacuation routes, overseeing the operations of field stations and disseminating flood forecasts and warnings. Regular interactions among communities and major stakeholders is an integral part of the SOP.