Chinese meteorological departments spearheaded by CMA is harnessing modern science and technology, reinforcing collaboration with related sectors, building a safer society through improved forecast, risk management, cross-sector linkage mechanism, and enhanced capabilities in rural areas.

Meteorological disaster prevention, reduction and relief system

The meteorological disaster prevention, reduction and relief system in the new era consists of the "five major systems", in terms of meteorological disaster monitoring, forecasting and warning system, the emergency warning information release system, the meteorological disaster risk prevention system, the organization and responsibility system, and the regulations and standards system. Based on the five major systems, meteorological departments will carry out “Seven Actions”, including the urban, rural and marine meteorological disaster prevention, reduction and relief, the key regional demonstration program on disaster prevention and reduction, emergency warning information dissemination, weather modification and science outreach.

Two-thirds of the counties introduced the meteorological disaster prevention plans, and more than 60% of townships (streets) have brought meteorological disaster prevention and public weather services into government duties.

Warning information releasing

Before meteorological disasters occur, meteorological departments at all levels play the role of "message trees", issuing early warning information, and providing decision-making services for the government. Government deployed defense measures based on weather information. CMA has established the inter-ministry meeting mechanism for meteorological disaster early warning, and launched the inter-ministry coordination platform. At the grass-roots level, a team of about 780,000 meteorological messengers was established to transmit weather warning information to the “last mile”.

In May of 2015, the national early warning information releasing center for emergencies was established; as well as the early warning information releasing system was put into operation. 

So far, there are 1 national-level, 31 provincial-level, 342 prefecture-level management platform and 2015 county-level warning information releasing terminals. At the national level, there are 16 ministries including Ministry of Emergency Management, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, linked to the releasing system with 76 kinds of early warning. The coverage rate of public warning information reached 85%, and the time of the warning information was shortened to 5-8 minutes from the production completion to the release. 

Warning messages come out from the releasing system can reach targeted areas through various channels, including national emergency broadcasting system, mobile operator, Internet service provider, special local early warning system, SMS (Short Messaging Service) early warning system, etc. The early warning system has been channeled to various internet service providers, including Tencent, Alibaba Group, Baidu, and Sina. 

In addition, to make remote areas accessible to early warning information, 436 thousand loudspeakers and 78 thousand meteorological service stations have been put in place. 

Editor Hao Jing