With typhoon season on the horizon, the Philippines leans heavily on new early warning and risk analysis capabilities to ensure whole-of-government preparedness and community awareness.
Manila, Philippines—Every year, the tropical Pacific region navigates increasingly severe typhoon seasons, with powerful storms that bring fierce winds, heavy rain, flooding, and storm surges across the region.
None are more familiar with these phenomena than the Philippines, which is especially vulnerable to typhoons due to the vast number of coastal areas exposed to the devastating pathways of the storms year-round. During the 2024 season alone, the nation suffered loss of life, millions of dollars in structural damage, and serious economic impacts as a result of a number of powerful storm events.
Being able to track and predict the likely impacts of these storms and provide early warning is essential to saving lives. Through a long-term partnership between the Pacific Disaster Center (PDC) and the Philippines Office of Civil Defense (OCD), the capacity to monitor hazards and take early action has been greatly enhanced in recent years.
A custom early warning and risk intelligence platform known as PhilAWARE, deployed in 2020 by PDC and powered by its core DisasterAWARE platform, provides near real-time warnings and analytical insights ahead of tropical cyclone landfall. This fast and accurate information aids disaster management operators with the identification and prepositioning of resources to protect communities, as well as ensures community awareness and preparedness prior to impact.
Photo credit: PDC
