Inquirer News: DREAM Flood Maps can help lessen El Nino's Impact

In an article in the Science/ Health portion of the Philippine Daily Inquirer (p.A23) last August 29, 2015, Dr. Enrico C. Paringit, Program Leader of the UP Disaster Risk and Exposure Assessment for Mitigation (DREAM) Program, stated that flood maps can be harnessed to find places where people can store water for the dry season.

According to the article, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said that "the country will face a severe El Nino starting October of this year, that will surpass the same episode 17 years ago when 70 percent of the country experienced severe drought and suffered water and flood shortages."

The DREAM LiDAR maps can determine:

(1) the possible sources of water flow brought by heavy rainfall, and where this water can be diverted and directed to the impoundment where the water can be stored for future use and

(2) the capacity of an area to store water, that will be used by the government agencies involved in the impoundment of the water, e.g. National Irrigation Administration (NIA), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

Thus, the necessary damming projects will have a more scientific, accurate, and reliable basis as to the amount and location of the water that can be store for water security purposes. These damming projects may be temporary, the important thing is to be able to store water when it is needed.

Please see the link below to the news article by Noli A. Ermitanio:

http://business.inquirer.net/198114/scientist-mulls-use-of-flood-maps-to-lessen-el-ninos-effects