Community-Based Flood Early Warning System (CBFEWS)

Ma. Cecilia A. Monteverde

Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) Department of Science and Technology (DOST)

Outline of Presentation

Introduction CBFEWS o Activities o Stakeholders o etc.

The Philippines: A Hazard Prone Country

The geographic and geologic setting of the Philippines make it prone to various hazards, including: climate/weatherrelated
- average of 20 TC/year; 90% of these affect the country

Guinsaugon, St. Bernard

landslide storm surge Tornado Other Extreme Weather Events

Tracks of tropical cyclones (1148 entered PAR) that formed in the Western North Pacific (WNP) - 1948 - 2006

FREQUENCY OF FLOOD IN CITIES & MUNICIPALITIES

THE STUDY ON THE NATIONWIDE FLOOD RISK ASSESSMENT AND THE FLOOD MITIGATION PLAN FOR THE SELECTED AREAS IN THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES: JICA, 2004

River Basins in the Philippines

18 Majors 420 principal rivers

Monitored river basins

4 fully automatic 2 combination of automatic & manual Several manual or community based

What is Early Warning System

EWS - provides an effective solution to this by giving people sufficient time to evacuate and protect their property from an impending hazard.

Why pursue a CBFEWS?

It empowers local government units (LGUs) and the communities to protect themselves against floods. The community and LGUs are in the best position to undertake preparedness measures against floods. It promotes a sense of ownership on the part of the LGUs, hence it is easier to sustain.

Objectives and Activities under CBFEWS

CBFEWS - mechanism for monitoring and registering rain data and river behavior upstream to provide timely warnings to downstream communities from a possible flood.

River basin approach

At risk communities

Network Design is based on river basin approach.

Partners:
1. Community 2. Local government units (LGUs) 3. National government (OCD, DOST, academe, etc.) 4. Scientific institutions

5. NGOs
6. Foreign donors

The Community
The community is an important component of CBFEWS. The observation and transmission of data and the issuance and dissemination of flood warnings to the Operation Center will be undertaken by the trained municipal and/or barangay/personnel volunteers.

Operation Center
Designates the barangay/municipal volunteers Carry-out the necessary disaster activities and provide the community with the information during extreme events. Responsible in the maintenance of the instruments assigned to them.

Design of a Community-based Flood Early Warning System (CBFEWS)

1. Telemetered or fully automatic system
2. Manual system (observation, transmission of observed data by the community) 3. Combination of telemetered and manual systems

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1. Telemetered or fully automatic system

Rainfall station Water Level station

Relay (Repeater) station

Control station

Warning station Flood Forecasting & Warning Center

Patrol cars

Field Center

Telemetering equipment

Facilities of a Telemetered Flood Forecasting and Warning System (FFWS)

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2. Manual flood early warning system

involves institutions, instrumentation & community people centered economical flood mitigating measure

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Instrumentations
1. 2. 3. 4. Raingauges Water Level gauges Tide Gauges Communication facilities
1. Raingauge

1. Raingauge

4. Communication
facilities

2. Water Level gauge

SAMPLE OF MANUAL RAINGAUGE

Activities of CBFEWS (Implementation Phase)

Coordination with LGUs & other institutions

Data gathering , survey and design of network

Procurement, fabrication & installation of equipment Setting of hydromet parameters for observation

On-site training of Observers & members of community

IEC, Dry run/flood drill Signing of MOA and turn-over of facilities

Operationalization

1. CONSULTATION MEETINGS WITH LGUS Conduct consultation meeting/workshop with stakeholders on the proposed EWS and acquire necessary information for the establishment of the EWS network.

2. NETWORK DESIGN THRU TABLE TOP SURVEY

2. OCULAR SURVEY OF PROPOSED SITES OF MONITORING STATIONS

3. PROCUREMENT/FABRICATION OF CBFEWS INSTRUMENTS

digital and manual raingauges

water Level gauges tide gauges

Batingaws

Criteria for the issuance of warnings:

1. Threshold values of rainfall

Note: Threshold values of rainfall are based on previous studies, hence these are arbitrary. These values will be modified when sufficient data are available in the

Establishment of Assessment Levels for Flood Warning

River stage assessment levels: A. Critical (3), B. Alert (2) and C. Alarm (1) are determined based on available data, historical flood reports, interviews, and by empirical formula and/or actual field measurements.
33 3 3 3 2
1

3 2 1

Criteria for the issuance of warnings:

RIVER STAGE OR ASSESSMENT WATER LEVELS
3 33 3 3 2
1

3 2 1

Actual Water Level (m)

Meaning

Flood Warning to be released

Level 1
Level 2 Level 3

Awareness(Paalala)
Preparedness(Paghahanda)

READY
GET SET GO

Response (Paglikas)

Note: Assessment water levels are based on surveys on the river at a particular cross section. Again, these values will be modified when sufficient observations are available.

Rainfall Threshold
Rainfall Values
15 mm or more within an hour

Required Actions
Immediate pre-disaster actions, report to the Emergency Operation Center (EOC). Immediate reporting to EOC, disaster mitigating and preparedness activities will be initiated upon advice of EOC.

If 3-hourly observation is 20 mm to 30 mm

If 3-hourly observation Inform the DCCs through the EOC to is > 30 mm, continuous initiate evacuation activities at lowrainfall lying areas and those located at the near the river channel.

Flood warning consists of the following: 1. 2. 3. 4. Rainfall data Water level data Soil condition for the past days Weather condition

5. TRAINING OF OBSERVERS
The role of observers in the monitoring of hydrological information and the timeliness of providing the observed data and information is the most critical part of the program. PAGASA will train the volunteers how to measure

the rainfall and water/tide gauges and the reporting procedures to the Emergency Operation Center.
Hazard Maps will also be prepared to identify the boundaries within which the warning system and evacuation procedure should be effective.
OJT on Rainfall Observation

5. DRY RUN / PILOT TESTING

Flow of Data / Information System
Rainfall Water level

RR Stn. RR Stn.2 WL Stn. 2

Operation center -

WL Stn.1

Flood Warning

RR Stn 1

Station network

Community

6. SIGNING OF A MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT (MOA)

CBFEWS will be realized through Memorandum of Agreements among PAGASA, LGUs and other stakeholders. Under the MOA, the responsibilities of each stakeholders are defined and stated to ensure smooth implementation of the program. The passage or enactment of local laws/ordinance to reserve a certain amount of money for the continuous operation and maintenance of the EWS. This is important for the sustainability of the project.

Real-time Data Transmission

RR Observers Emergency Operation Center

Weather Update / Info Data / Flood Advisory / Warning Flood Advisory Warning

Water Lever Observers

Target Community

Provincial Disaster PAGASA Local Station Update / Info Coordinating Council

Weather

Flood Advisory

Warning

Regional Disaster Coordinating Council

Non-Real time Data Transmission

RR Observers Emergency Operation Center Water Lever Observers

Monthly Data

Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council

Monthly
Data

PAGASA Central Office

Monthly Data

PAGASA Local Station

PASILIDAD PANGKOMUNIKASYON Radio or Telephone is used to relay data and information between the monitoring stations, the barangay disaster action teams, and the main operation system. All the efforts of prevention, detection and decision making would be useless unless all the information (rainfall and water level/tide data) and other information are properly communicated to the public and the end-users. Batingaw or public address are used to disseminate flood warnings and other disaster response activities.

Communication Facilities

7. Turn-over Ceremony

Preparation of Operations Manual

Republic of the Philippines Department of Science and Technology (DOST)

Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA)

FLOOD FORECASTING BRANCH

PROCEDURES Rainfall Observation

(for Non-Recording Standard Raingauge)

Republic of the Philippines Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA)

FLOOD FORECASTING BRANCH Rainfall Observation (using Tipping Bucket with Digital LCD monitor) Community-Based Flood Early Warning System (CBFEWS)

Republic of the Philippines Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA)

FLOOD FORECASTING BRANCH

RIVER STAGE OBSERVATION

Signages for flashfloods and landslides

For any disaster warning system to succeed, several components are necessary:

Technology to detect and monitor the hazard; Communication systems to alert the public; Local leaders trained to make the right decisions; A public that is educated to react appropriately to warnings; and Response protocols such as evacuation plans prepared and rehearsed well in advance of the threat.

Cities and towns have something in common:

a new awareness and political commitment to protect communities from future disasters.
This kind of awareness and commitment, unfortunately usually comes after a disaster strikes.

For more information, VISIT us at http://www.pagasa.dost.gov.ph

SALAMAT PO!