As populations increase, more people are exposed to hazards, and large, growing cities face numerous challenges when responding to a disaster. Preparing for these challenges through exercise and simulation is an essential step in acting effectively and efficiently when a real event occurs.
Balikatan is an annual joint exercise of the Republic of the Philippines and the United States aimed at improving civil-military coordination for disaster preparedness. In 2012, the 28th Balikatan Exercise focused on Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HA/DR) training and included simulating a catastrophic earthquake and resulting tsunami impacting metropolitan Manila.
PDC’s DisasterAWARE® decision support system was used as the situational awareness tool during the exercise. Through EMOPS, the professional disaster management version of DisasterAWARE, exercise players displayed the exercise scenario, visualized the location of damage and support units, and shared information. In addition, PDC staff conducted DisasterAWARE training with disaster management agencies and military representatives from the Philippines, the United States, Malaysia, Indonesia, Australia, Thailand, Korea, and Japan. The activities helped reinforce good practices, identify gaps in coordination and national disaster management capabilities, and uncover possible solutions.
ABOUT PDC
Pacific Disaster Center (PDC) is a leading scientific innovator of global risk reduction science and technology. As a University of Hawai’i applied science and research center, our work intersects with a variety of government, community, academic, and scientific organizations at home and around the world to build resilience to natural and man-made hazards—enhancing the capacity to quickly and accurately anticipate and prepare for new and emerging threats. Our innovations in multi-hazard early warning systems, predictive analytics, data science, and machine learning provide decision-makers with the powerful tools and insights they need to navigate today’s complex and interconnected risk landscape.
Dec 4, 2025 | DisasterAWARE, Early Warning
From crippling floods to powerful earthquakes and back-to-back typhoons, the Philippines hazard environment grew more complex by the month during 2025—and its Office of Civil Defense (OCD) charged with responding, leaned heavily on the system it had institutionalized just a year earlier.
May 15, 2025 | Early Warning
With typhoon season on the horizon, the Philippines leans heavily on new early warning and risk analysis capabilities to ensure whole-of-government preparedness and community awareness.
Aug 7, 2024 | Disaster Response, DisasterAWARE, Latest Stories, Partner Projects
PDC's message of hope and commitment to Maui’s resilience and recovery Maui Island,...
May 14, 2024 | Early Warning, Exercises and Training
After concluding a year-long engagement with Barbados in which the Pacific Disaster Center (PDC)...
May 3, 2024 | Advanced Analytics, Early Warning, Partnerships
Geneva, Switzerland—During the week of May 6-10, 2024, participants at the U.N. Humanitarian Networks and Partnerships Weeks (HNPW) forum in Geneva, Switzerland will get a firsthand look at how PDC is spearheading transformative efforts within the “Early Warnings for All” initiative, including its advanced analytics
Nov 8, 2023 | Early Warning
Singapore’s Changi Regional Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) Coordination Centre...