Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) and its Public Storm Warning Signal System and Rainfall Warning System and Project NOAH
In the Philippines, the government agency that is responsible for weather forecasts and rain advisories and typhoon warnings is the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
PAGASA has an established Public Storm Warning Signal System (1 to 4) and the color-coded Rainfall Warning System (red, orange, and yellow).
Public Storm Warning Signal
PSWS #1 – Tropical cyclone winds of 30 km/h to 60 km/h are expected within the next 36 hours.
PSWS #2 – Tropical cyclone winds of 60 km/h to 100 km/h are expected within the next 24 hours.
PSWS #3 – Tropical cyclone winds of 100 km/h to 185 km/h are expected within the next 18 hours.
PSWS #4 – Tropical cyclone winds of greater than 185 km/h are expected within 12 hours.
http://www.pagasa.dost.gov.ph/genmet/psws.html
Rainfall Warning System
The red, orange and yellow color coding is applied to the three levels of rainfall volume intensity and likely consequent flooding.
A yellow rainfall advisory is raised when the expected rainfall amount is between 7.5 mm and 15 mm within one hour and likely to continue. Communities given this advisory are advised to be aware of the weather condition and warned that flooding may be possible in low-lying areas.
An orange rainfall advisory is raised in areas where rainfall is between 15 mm and 30 mm within one hour. Flooding is a definite threat in communities under the orange alert.
A red rainfall advisory is raised when observed rainfall is more than 30 mm within one hour or if rainfall has continued for the past three hours and is more than 65 mm. When PAGASA raises a Red warning, communities should be prepared to respond. It means serious flooding is seen and that residents should be ready to evacuate to safety.
Project Noah (Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards)
Project NOAH is the Department of Science and Technology’s (DOST) response for a more accurate, integrated, and responsive disaster prevention and mitigation system, especially in high-risk areas throughout the Philippines. The website, Project Noah, gives information about the weather, amount of rainfall, water level in the river, floods, etc. which can be used by everyone.
The information, both forecast and actual, from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (its Public Storm Warning Signal System and Rainfall Warning System) and Project NOAH should be used by all hospitals in their Rain-Flood-Wind Incident Safety and Preparedness Program.
These information can be sourced from the websites of PAGASA and Project NOAH and their FACEBOOK and Twitter.
Hospital Safety Promotion & Disaster Preparedness 