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UP NOAH Overview
Program: Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards (UP NOAH) Center
Formerly part of the Philippine Department of Science and Technology.
Aims to enhance disaster response capacity against extreme weather impacts.
Objectives of UP NOAH
Conduct advanced disaster science research.
Develop accessible tools for local government units (LGUs), policymakers, and communities.
Shift from hazard mapping to innovative risk mapping.
Completed projects: Flood, landslide, and storm surge hazards in 2015.
Key Initiatives
Integrated Scenario-based Assessments of Impacts and Hazards (ISAIAH)
Launched in 2016 to improve DRRM understanding and practices.
Focus on risk mapping to visualize hazard impact and improve community disaster plans.
Community Involvement
Emphasis on continuous education and communication campaigns.
Use of internet and social media to reach grassroots levels.
Conducting mapping workshops in local communities.
Partnerships and Collaborations
Collaboration with OpenStreetMap (OSM) for disaster resilience.
Helps identify critical facilities and vulnerable areas.
Importance of Risk Mapping
Assists in identifying safe locations for evacuation and infrastructure:
Maps exposure elements like population and buildings.
Useful for LGUs in emergency response and disaster mitigation planning.
Challenges in Disaster Preparedness
Difficulty in motivating public engagement in disaster preparedness.
Communication barriers with older generations regarding scientific terms.
Essential to unify social, economic, and political efforts for effective DRRM.
Scientific Contributions to DRRM
Crowdsourced generation of geospatial data for better emergency response.
Development of tools like WebSAFE for impact assessment based on available hazards.
Acknowledgements
Appreciation for UP NOAH researchers and their contributions to disaster mitigation in the Philippines.
Thankful for institutional support promoting interdisciplinary research and community empowerment.