UNDERSTANDING INSTITUTIONAL COORDINATION IN FLOOD DISASTERS: EARLY WARNING COMMUNICATION AND RESPONSE

Abstract

Recurrent gaps in institutional coordination and early warning communication, despite formal disaster management structures, are exposed along the Chenab River in District Chiniot, Punjab. There is little empirical research on the manner in which warnings go through institutions and communities as well as the barriers to effective local response. This qualitative case study involved the exploration of institutional coordination, early warning dissemination, and flood response mechanisms in Tehsil Lalian, Chiniot, through the lens of village heads (Namberdars). Six purposely selected Namberdars were interviewed semi-structured with firsthand experience of major floods in 2013, 2014, and 2025. Thematic analysis in NVivo 14 was used to analyze the data guided by a 6-theme coding scheme: Role and Experience, Flood Impact, Early Warning Communication, Institutional Coordination and Response, Community Preparedness, and Recommendations. A fundamental dilemma came up: the rapid, disciplined evacuation of Rescue 1122 (IR-RP, n=6) and inter-agency field coordination (IR-CG, n=6) was celebrated, whereas District Government relief (IR-DG, n=6), including 4+ days of delays in food distributions, insufficient quantities, and out-of-date beneficiary lists, was condemned. The warnings were timely (24-72 hrs) but frequently technical in nature (e.g., 3.5 to 10 lakh cusec), and there were frequent network failures and no pre-flood awareness campaigns (EW-AG, n=4). The best dissemination and response channels were mosque loudspeakers and youth volunteer teams (EW2, CP-CI, n=6). The most vulnerable groups, widows, the aged, tenants, and the landless labourers, were disproportionately impacted (FI-VG, n=6). Chiniot has high horizontal coordination to rescue and low vertical integration to provide relief and risk communication. The results follow the principle of early warnings to all that all four elements of FEWS should be interrelated. Among other recommendations, it is proposed that pre-positioning food at the Union Council level, localizing the warnings in Punjabi, annually updating the vulnerable household data, and institutionalizing pre-monsoon joint training between Namberdars, Rescue 1122, and District Administration.