Disaster monitoring and response system to serve 10 ASEAN nations

With funding from USAID, PDC developed a custom DisasterAWARE decision support platform for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

ASEAN, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, formally launched its state-of-the-art Disaster Monitoring and Response System (DMRS) in Chiang Mai, Thailand, January 10, during the 21st meeting of representatives of the ASEAN Committee on Disaster Management with its international partners. Implementation of the DMRS demonstrates the commitment by the ten national members of the association to jointly address disaster risk reduction and particularly, preparedness and response efforts.

DMRS is the latest outcome of years of collaboration between Pacific Disaster Center (PDC) and the ASEAN Committee on Disaster Management (ACDM) in disaster risk reduction.  The system, funded by USAID, enhances advanced disaster monitoring, warning, modeling, evidence-based decision making, and trans-border cooperation capabilities in the region. DMRS is operational at the ASEAN Humanitarian Assistance Coordinating Centre (AHA Centre), located in Jakarta, Indonesia.

The development of DMRS was based PDC’s DisasterAWARE flagship product and conducted in close coordination with ASEAN Secretariat, AHA Centre Task Force members, and ACDM international dialog partners from Japan. The system was customized to meet specific ASEAN requirements. Other custom versions of DisasterAWARE are in use nationally by U.S. federal and state agencies, and internationally by the governments of Thailand and Vietnam—with strong interest also expressed by Indonesia, Philippines and others.

PDC Executive Director, Ray Shirkhodai participated in the recent launch saying “We are proud of our long-standing partnership with ASEAN, dedicated to enhancing risk reduction capabilities and capacities in this disaster-prone region.” Mr. Shirkhodai added, “DMRS is more than just computer software, but with its information sharing and multi-hazard integrated modeling capabilities, it is a critical tool for decision makers to most effectively prepare for and respond to major disasters.”

To complete the knowledge transfer and help build AHA Centre capacities, PDC will be holding advanced training on the system for regional disaster managers in early 2013.

For more about DMRS at the AHA Centre:
•  Visit the AHA Centre website,
•  Read about an ICT Workshop at the AHA Centre, and
•  View a story about the original installation of DisasterAWARE at AHA Centre.