Last November 14, 2023, the Academic Alliance for Anticipatory Action (4As) presented a webinar showcasing the newly developed tools in Lesotho and the Philippines to help predict and visualize the effects of climate-related disasters. Aside from presenting the tools, expected local users were also invited to provide their insights regarding the development of the tools and how these tools can support their organizations and citizens.
In this webinar, Dr. Mahar Lagmay of the UP Resilience Institute presented the significant development within UPRI’s ongoing efforts to enhance disaster preparedness and response in the Philippines. In this webinar, Dr. Lagmay introduced the newly developed Beta feature under the NOAH website, “Impact-Based Flood Forecasting”, firmly rooted in the principle of anticipatory action, a critical approach to proactively mitigate the impacts of disasters. The beta system is expected to be released and integrated into the NOAH website later this year.
Dr. Lagmay highlighted how the impact-based flood forecasting system aligns with our commitment to providing timely, localized, and actionable information for disaster response and preparedness without a government-led platform for anticipatory action in the country.
Meanwhile, Ms. Aleandra Rivera of the Quezon City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (QCDRRMC) discussed how these models can improve their responses to save lives and livelihoods during a disaster. Ms. Rivera highlighted the need for stakeholder collaboration for more effective and efficient preparedness and disaster planning, especially in an urban setting.
As the webinar concluded, Dr. Lagmay shared a poignant takeaway: Anticipatory action is not just about the tools and the technologies that provide information because they do not directly facilitate the execution of response activities. He reiterated that coordination, resources, and response mechanisms must be in place to act on the information provided. Furthermore, anticipatory action is about collaboration among communities, governments, and organizations.
We want to thank Tufts University and the 4As consortium for hosting this enlightening webinar and all participants for contributing to an interactive discussion for anticipatory action.