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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.