Nesat (Pedring) update: introducing the Airboat Deployment Officer uniform

Typhoon Nesat (local name Pedring) has reached the land in Luzon, northern Philippines. Last night the storm warning for Laguna, where I am based, was upgraded to Signal level 2 (three is the highest). Land slides have occurred in some southern islands and a tornado has reportedly swept through Isabella, Luzon damaging six houses. (Source: philstar.com)

As you can see, this morning at 3am the typhoon was right over Northern Philippines. (Source: wunderground.com)

Classes at institutions from the kindergarten level right up to university have been cancelled today. This includes, perhaps ironically, a talk that I suppose to give at University of Philippines, Los Banos on using the boats in disaster response.

To prepare for the immense rain that is expected over the next 48 hours I have developed the Airboat Deployment Officer (ADO) uniform.

ADO uniform. 

All Airboat Deployment Officers should have:

• One pair of waterproof boots. Black.
• One umbrella. Black.
• One waterproof jacket. Clear*.
• One pair of waterproof pants. Clear*.

What you could look like if you become an ADO today!

*If ADO prefers, they can choose a coloured uniform. This gives them the option of remaining naked under the uniform.

Preparing for Typhoon Nesat (Pedring)

Today I am getting the boats ready for Typhoon Nesat (local name Pedring) - a typhoon off the coast of the Philippines.

I am busy charging batteries, polishing hulls and waterproofing in the hope that one of these boats will get deployed in the aftermath of a real typhoon.

Here are some images, provided by www.wunderground.com:

Source: wunderground.com

Source: wunderground.com

As you can see Nesat is predicted to become a category 3 typhoon sometime tomorrow morning as it passes over Northern Philippines.

PAGASA (the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration) has estimated 10 to 20 mm of rain per hour within a 600km diameter of the typhoon. Heavy rain is expected in Metro Manila. (Source: gmanews)

Over the next 48 to 72 hours I plan to learn as much as I can about the preparation and response of a tropical typhoon. Even if I can't get the boats out I will learn valuable information that will directly help further research into the Airboat project.

Keep up-to-date with the typhoon at these sites:

• http://www.wunderground.com/tropical/tracking/wp201120.html
• http://www.pagasa.dost.gov.ph/
• http://www.typhoon2000.ph/

Stay tuned for more updates over the next few days.