Ecobreves – CENTRAL AMERICA: A Digital System to Avoid Natural Disasters

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TEGUCIGALPA, May 11 2009 (IPS) - The countries of Central America will set up a digital platform to detect areas of risk of natural disasters, and to share experiences in prevention and mitigation, reported the Honduran Permanent Commission for Contingencies, Copeco. The platform will include a system to identify risk by using modeling and visualization tools in each country in order to permit early warning alerts and mechanisms of collaboration, Copeco coordinator Marcos Burgos told Tierramérica.

“It will support local communities and governments, who will be provided with a user-friendly computer program,” he said, adding that it will be installed by the end of the year.

As part of this regional effort, in April, Honduras presented its first “risk map”, identifying 28 vulnerable areas in its territory.