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The 1st Meeting of Southeastern Asia-Oceania Flash Flood Guidance (SAOFFG) Steering Committee

The 1^st Meeting of Southeastern Asia-Oceania Flash Flood Guidance (SAOFFG) Steering Committee appointed the Agency for Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics of the Republic of Indonesia as the Regional Center for Flash Flood Guidance System Project (FFGSP).

Jakarta - Indonesia represented by BMKG hosted the Steering Committee Southeastern Asia-Oceania Flash Flood Guidance (SAOFFG) 1^st Meeting that held from 9-12 July 2017. Supported by World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Hydrologic Research Center (HRC), this meeting was attended by 35 participants from Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Timor Leste, Philippines, and Papua New Guinea.

In the Southeastern Asia-Oceania region, flash floods account for a significant portion of the lives lost and property damages that result from flooding. Given that flash floods can occur at any time or place with disastrous results, there is an urgent need to prioritize efforts that aim to improve early warnings capabilities.

"WMO statistic showed those flash floods are the second mostly deathly event in the regional phenomenon in the world after earthquake. Annually at least 5000 people were killed by flash flood" said Ayhan Sayin from WMO.

Mr. Sayin also mention that WMO Congress in 2007 adopted a resolution to implement a global flash flood guidance system worldwide. Right now more than 16 countries are using the flash flood guidance products for issuing flash flood warning. As the part of the global flash flood guidance implementation, Southeastern Asia-Oceania Initial Planning Meeting already took place last year in January 2016. This year Indonesia, specifically BMKG, elected as the Regional Center for Flash Flood Guidance System Project (FFGSP).

Deputy Genaral For Metorology of BMKG, Dr. Yunus S.Swarinoto said that Indonesia will adopt the Flash Flood Guidance System technology so it can be apply around Indonesia.

"In this meeting we also talk about advanced training for our forecasters "said Dr. Yunus.

The 3 day meeting is the 1^st steering committee meeting discussed many issues about this project, particularly about exchange data for the implementation of the system. In addition, Southeastern Asia-Oceania Flash Flood Guidance System will also implement to the Jakarta Urban Flash Flood Early Warning System.