20 Nov 2015

Vanuatu produces new cyclone map for better preparedness

6:16 pm on 20 November 2015

The Vanuatu Meteorological Service is changing its cyclone tracking map in the hope of giving affected communites more information.

The department's William Worwor says they held consultations throughout the islands about the quality of service during Cyclone Pam.

Mr Worwor says people expressed there was lack of information reaching them so the service has been working to improve dissemination of information.

Part of this effort is reproducing a new cyclone tracking map with more detailed information.

"Important contact numbers. Also we have tried to capture some real experience included into the tracking map. For example, different wind catergories of a cyclone. Instead of just putting in numbers in knots or kilometres per hour, we have also included a picture of possible damage that wind might cause."

The Service's William Worwor says the new map will be ready nex week.

Vanuatu has been forecast two to six cyclones over the 2015-2016 cyclone season.