How Can You Benefit from DOST’s Project NOAH?

Photo credit: noah.dost.gov.ph

During his third State of the Nation Address (SONA) in 2012, President Benigno Simeon Aquino III made a special mention of Project NOAH. He said, this initiative would save families during disastrous events.

Three years had passed since the launching of this groundbreaking project, but many Filipinos are still unaware of it. Well, it’s rainy season once again and we’re starting to hear and read about this project in various media outlets and platforms.

Before the next SONA unfolds and PNoy boasts about Project NOAH for the very last time, it counts that you know something about it.

In case you are not familiar with Project NOAH or know so little about it, it’s time to feed your mind.

What should you know about this high-tech program? Why and how should you use it to save your own life and other people’s lives?

What Is It?

The devastation of powerful typhoons Ondoy, Pepeng, and Sendong inspired the creation of Project NOAH—an acronym for Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards.

It is a collaborative project among various governmental agencies and the University of the Philippines but was initiated and launched by the Department of Science and Technology. It has a goal to “promote and integrate advanced science and technology to enhance disaster management and prevention capacity of the Philippine government.”

A web-based project, NOAH expands weather forecasting systems at their very best. It offers early warnings for typhoons and other disasters (e.g., landslides, flooding, etc.) through the use of an IT network. Its official web site includes many features that all offer updated info—from weather outlook, to amount of rainfall, to water level monitoring, and up to 3D mapping of flooded areas.

Well, it’s a “view-one-know-all” thing.

How to Use It

Filipinos and any web user who is concerned about the current situation in the Philippines can just go online and visit the web site, www.noah.dost.gov.ph.

The web site features a hazard map, various sections representing NOAH tools (overview, weather outlook, Doppler, weather stations, flood map, and health), search bar, measuring tools, and map visualization options. It also has newsfeeds and allows flood reporting. The site is so useful for it contains updated details and even real-time updates on many current disaster-related events.

Perks of Using It

During the launching of Project NOAH, PNoy said that Project NOAH aimed at giving people enough time to prepare, especially those living in communities near 18 major river basins.

As the country lies across the typhoon belt and on the so-called “ring of fire,” the project wants all Filipinos to always stay safe. Through this project, the government hopes to achieve zero casualties whenever catastrophes strike.