(Colombo, 18 May) As heavy rain continues to fall in Sri Lanka, IWMI, jointly with the Disaster Management Centre of Sri Lanka (DMC-SL) has activated its disaster charter with Sentinel Asia (as of 15 May). The IWMI team has prepared flood situation maps and statistics that will be used by the National Disaster Response and Rehabilitation Centre for emergency coordination.
IWMI’s Niranga Alahacoon, RS/GIS Analyst, has been assigned to the Disaster Management Centre Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) for 48 hours to support government officials and UN Agencies by providing maps and data.
IWMI has also received approval from the Sri Lankan Air Force to fly its unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) which can rapidly photograph affected areas for damage assessment.
“Our rapid response and close collaboration with national relief agencies is a great demonstration of how IWMI’s technical expertise can provide much needed information for improved disaster management,” said Amarnath Giriraj, who lead’s IWMI’s flood mapping research.
Read the flood assessment bulletin and view flood maps.
Mapping floods in Northern Province – Before and after images
Source: http://www.iwmi.cgiar.org/resources/emergency-response-products-for-water-disasters/#maps