Hydrology and Water Resources Programme (HWRP)

First Steering Committee Meeting 1 (SCM 1) of The Mekong River Commission Flash Flood Guidance (MRCFFG) Project

Phnom Penh, Cambodia, 29 November- 1 December 2016

In the Southeast Asia region, flash floods account for a significant portion of the lives lost and property damages caused by flooding. Given that flash floods can occur at any time or place with disastrous results so that there is an urgent need to prioritize efforts that aim to improve early warnings capabilities of the National Meteorological and Hydrological Services. Improvements help society to cope with flash flood threats by enabling the mandated national authorities to undertake appropriate measures, thereby contributing to protecting the population at risk from the disastrous effects of flash floods.

The first Steering Committee Meeting (SCM1) of the MRCFFG system was held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia from 29 November to 1 December 2016 with the participation of representatives of NMHSs of Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, and Viet Nam as well MRC, WMO and HRC.

The objectives of the meeting were to:

1. overview roles and responsibilities of the Regional Centre and participating NMHSs;
2. become familiar with the upgraded HRCFFG System and its products;
3. present case studies of past flash flood events;
4. discuss ideas and possible agree on how to proceed on effective and efficient use of the MRCFFG system and its products in daily flash flood forecasts;
5. enhancement of collaboration among MRC, NMHSs, and water management authorities.

• Final Report of the meeting
• See Presentations given during the meeting