Crisis Center of West Sumatera that functions as a central data / information and disaster preparedness formed based on the Local Government Regulations Province of West Sumatra No. 5/2007 on Disaster Relief in Prov. Sumbar, a decree from the Governor of West Sumatra No.800/15/Satkorlak PB/2008 of the Implementation Task Manager Manpower Plans and PUSDALOPS PB West Sumatera Province.

 In addition, the Crisis Center serves as the center of the analysis & evaluation of disaster risks, the central decision-making, operations control center and training center, education and socialization.

In daily routines, Crisis Center play an active role in various phases of disaster management. At pre / before the disaster, Crisis Center serves as a central data base preparation information supporting disaster mitigation policy formulation, formulation of the standard operation of disaster management, the development of early warning systems supported by IT, as the data center / information and dissemination of disaster preparedness, monitoring & threat of disaster prediction, and training for disaster response for executive officer.

At the time of disaster, Crisis Center activities focus on the analysis and evaluation of data / information for decision-making early warning, in addition to permanent monitoring of the parameters and information source disaster threats, and implement the execution of early warning / evacuation. The state of emergency response is the time to do the operation in order to rescue victims of an emergency. At this stage, also made the data collection and preparation of victims and damages caused by the disaster. All potential disaster management (equipment, logistics, personnel and funding) efforted to meet the minimal needs of life so that victims can be saved.

Post-disaster, Crisis Center offers support to participate in producing data and information about the impact of the disaster, also in planning policy and its implementation of the operation of recovery / reconstruction.

In activities, supported by the personnel consisting of managers and operators who have met qualifications, and experts. Manager of 14 persons with the qualifications: training managers have the certification, the management and administration operations, proficient in IT & communication & digital geospasial, disaster preparedness and has a physical & mental readiness. The operators are 25 people, which are remain on, has an operator certification training, proficient in software data & digital geospasial, able to operate the equipment information & communication technology, also has a physical & mental readiness. In addition, operational Crisis Center also supported by a team of experts that consists of geologist, geophysics, information technology experts & geospasial digital, communication technologies and expert of construction.

Currently, the Crisis Center of West Sumatera is being set up a tsunami early warning system device called WS-TEWS (West Sumatra Tsunami Early Warning System) that is integrated with the INA-TEWS (Indonesia Tsunami Early Warning System). This device consists of:
- System of monitoring & parameters tsunami

- System to support decision making (decision making supporting system)

- Early warning system desemination

Until the early of 2009, the readiness of WS-TEWS is still in completing equipment and facilities. Early warning device is based on IT and non satellite communications.

In its implementation later, the tsunami early warning system will empower the speaker voices of mosques that located near the beach, which is controlled by a radio control system from the Crisis Center. As one of the device that supports WS-TEWS, the radio control has been preparing the development of the network, which will be located in 637 villages.

WS-TEWS device has been targeted can operate by the end of 2010.

(tita shania)