Innovative Flood Monitoring System: Enhancing Disaster Response and Community Safety

The study evaluated the Flood Monitoring and Warning System of the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO) in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, Philippines. It focused on the system's reliability in recording flood levels, calling for emergency response promptly, and distributing warning messages accurately to the community. The research included 53 DRRMO personnel and 169 residents of Barangay 8, a flood-prone area. Initial assessments by DRRMO personnel indicated very good ratings for recording flood levels and emergency calls, and an excellent rating for sending warning messages. Residents rated the flood monitoring application interface as excellent and communication with DRRMO as very good. Interviews with DRRMO personnel emphasized the need to upgrade the system's recording features, resident alerts, and real-time updates. The new flood monitoring system was developed using a microcontroller and ultrasonic sensors to measure water levels and alert authorities to potential flood risks. The system was well-received, with high effectiveness ratings for monitoring applications, warning message distribution, and emergency response calls. The study demonstrated that the microcontroller-based system accurately measures water levels, effectively sends alerts, and is highly acceptable to end-users. The findings suggest that the innovative flood control system significantly enhances flood management in Kabankalan by providing precise, timely information to emergency responders and the community, thus improving the overall efficiency of flood management effort.