DOST develops early warning system against storm surges, floods

Thousands of Filipinos were killed and millions worth of properties were destroyed when storm surges brought by super typhoon Yolanda surprised the residents of Eastern Visayas in November.

To help keep the public informed of and ready for what storms may bring, the Department of Science and Technology has come up with a protocol to warn people against storm surges, floods or landslides that might hit them.

DOST Secretary Mario Montejo and Project NOAH executive director Mahar Lagmay presented the proposed advisory protocols to President Benigno Aquino III at a Cabinet meeting Thursday, Presidential Communications Operations head Herminio Coloma Jr. said Friday.

They also showed results of various simulation studies on storm surges, floods, and landslides. The DOST and Project NOAH used actual data from the last 50 years to project future trends.

According to the proposed protocol, the public should be advised of a possible storm surge 48 hours before it hits.

A storm surge is an abnormal rise of the ocean generated by a weather disturbance such as a tropical cyclone.

Under the proposal, SSA (storm surge advisory) Number 1 indicates a storm surge height of up to two meters while SSA Number 2 means it will be up to five meters high and SSA Number 3 means a storm surge more than five meters high is expected.

Coloma said the government plans to lower the risks posed by storm surges by reducing exposure in coastal areas.

It will do that by implementing ‘no-build’ zones, developing natural barriers and constructing man-made barriers to reduce impact, and improving home, building and infrastructure resiliency.

The DOST also proposed the adoption of a flood advisory system.

Under the proposed system, the DOST will issue:

FA Number 1, up to 129 millimeters of rainfall is expected within the next 24 hours
FA Number 2, up to 190 mm of rainfall is expected within the next 24 hours
FA Number 3, up to 240 mm of rainfall is expected within the next 24 hours

Coloma said the satellite simulation studies for landslides resulted in high-resolution mapping and in the identification of a larger number of relatively-safe areas covering nearly half of the country.

He said the President directed the Cabinet to submit a disaster preparedness and risk reduction roadmap that will be formally adopted for implementation before the rainy season starts in June.

The Cabinet task group is composed of the secretaries of DOST, National Defense, Interior and Local Government, Public Works and Highways, Environment and Natural Resources, and the National Climate Change Commission.

Rehabilitation

At the same Cabinet meeting, rehabilitation czar Panfilo Lacson presented an update on the government’s post-Yolanda rehabilitation efforts.

Coloma said Lacson cited the active support of development and sectoral sponsors from the country’s biggest corporations who have volunteered to lead rehabilitation efforts in 24 areas within the calamity zone.

The four pilot areas for rehabilitation identified and adopted were:

Tacloban City, the hardest-hit area, the economic center of Eastern Visayas, and the regional logistical hub
Tanauan, Leyte for its tourism potential and build-back capacity
Guiuan, Eastern Samar, for the high level of private sector interest
Biliran, for government-led programs

Coloma said Aquino directed the DILG, DND and DSWD to complete post-disaster needs assessment reports for all 171 cities and municipalities affected by Yolanda to provide a reliable baseline for the implementaiton of recovery and rehabilitation efforts.

The President also ordered the immediate completion of land-use plans that clearly delineate no-build zones. — JDS, GMA News