Bangkok: The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) has partnered with eight agencies to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) aimed at enhancing the nation's disaster warning capabilities. This collaboration includes the establishment of a national warning laboratory, known as the War Room, which will utilize a standardized data set called One Message to disseminate timely and accurate disaster warnings.
According to Thai News Agency, the participating agencies include the Office of National Water Resources, Pollution Control Department, Meteorological Department, Department of Water Resources, Department of Mineral Resources, Royal Irrigation Department, Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency, and Hydro-Informatics Institute. The MOU focuses on the coordination, exchange, and support of information critical for disaster warnings, integrating various data dimensions such as climate, water conditions, rainfall, geographic information, air quality, and satellite information systems.
Mr. Phasakorn Boonyalak, Director-General of the DDPM, emphasized the importance of this initiative in enhancing the accuracy and speed of disaster warnings. The collaboration aims to ensure the public and relevant agencies receive precise and timely information to prepare for potential disasters effectively. A key component of this initiative is the utilization of a mobile phone warning system, Cell Broadcast, which has been tested across different scales and is ready for immediate deployment in disaster situations.
The MOU outlines three crucial guidelines for the involved agencies. Firstly, during normal conditions, experts from each agency will form a network to monitor national disasters, with the DDPM serving as the central coordinating body. Secondly, in anticipation of a disaster, a joint operation within the national disaster warning laboratory will be conducted around the clock to gather necessary data on risk areas, predictions, and public behavior guidelines. Lastly, the DDPM will disseminate early warnings through various channels to relevant agencies and the public, ensuring that incident command units have the information needed for effective response.
This significant collaboration marks a step forward in integrating disaster forecasting data to elevate the standard of public warnings. By accurately identifying risk areas and ensuring timely communication, the initiative aims to minimize the loss of life, property, and public utilities during disasters.