19 Nobyembre,2024 Martes
No to Divorce!!!
Get well soon Nanay Angelita Santiago-Lopez
No to SOGIE bill
PM for any hospital discharge problem
Happy Birthday Rosita Belmonte-Jose more birthdays to come
Happy Birthday Jo Ephraim Lopez more birthdays to come
Family of the late Jocelyn “Jo” Lising-Abelgas appreciates every moments shared by friends and relatives in their bereavement
Use updated hazard maps
By J.Lo
“These are very detailed maps, even barangay level or street level, you can see hazards,” UP Resilience Institute executive director Mahar Lagmay said with series of typhoons causing widespread devastation across the country, disaster scientist from University of the Philippines has urged local government units and general public to utilize updated maps showing hazards from different disasters.
Lagmay, developed under Project NOAH (Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards) are available at noah.up.edu.ph.
“Know your neighborhood, click place where you are in… and you will see flood hazard maps, the landslide hazard maps and the storm surge hazard maps,” he stressed.
Lagmay said maps can be used alongside weather forecasts and rainfall advisories from Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration.
“Look at the maps, if you are in an area that is color red or orange, that is sign for you to go to… safer place,” he added.
Despite availability of hazard maps, Lagmay said there are still local government units that use outdated maps.
“Concept of NOAH is that business of hazards mapping is not just to map out hazards, but really to identify safest places in given area,” he added.
Project NOAH was adopted by UP, established UP Resilience Institute, after previous administration ceased to provide funding.
Lagmay also urged local officials and policymakers to implement holistic approach in disaster risk reduction and management.
For instance, in flood control projects, he recommended exhausting soft and nature-based solutions first before implementing solutions that involve building infrastructure such as dikes and other concrete-based projects.
“Soft solutions include making room for river, making sure that there are no subdivisions or development,” he said, citing rules on easement for waterways.
Nature-based solutions include planting more trees and making mountains more vegetated to minimize erosion.
He also recommended having retention basins that will hold rainwater, will be released when it is no longer raining.
“If you start with soft solutions and nature-based solutions, along with proper planning, expense for concrete infrastructure will be lower,” he said.
ISKUP! 