I recently came across a NOAA map that I had never seen before. It makes it clear that flooding is not a new issue. As I think about some of my friends from other countries, there are places that are practically defined by flooding.

The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), a cornerstone of the United States’ scientific endeavors, employs a dedicated workforce of approximately 12,000 individuals. NOAA’s diverse responsibilities are carried out by its major line offices: the National Weather Service, the National Ocean Service, the National Marine Fisheries Service, the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service, the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, and the Office of Marine and Aviation Operations.

NOAA’s home website is https://www.weather.gov/

In our efforts to learn from the recent Texas flooding disasters, we have been monitoring both the situation and the amazing response efforts. Look for some initial attempts to create the IDRN Correspondents program – as a test using this specific disaster.

When it comes to highlighting best practices, our Legacy IDRN leaders from Southeast Asia have typically opted to not engage in the first wave of response – especially when there is a desire to not hinder in any way the local and government-backed response efforts. Most of their countries are proactive in disaster response, which is not always the case around the world. But like them, the United States and the state of Texas also have advanced response capabilities. Even so, those skills and resources cannot stop some levels of chaos that come with such events. And when it is requested and carefully applied, help is still needed and welcome.

IDRN is focused on awareness and best practices. With that in mind, here is some information you may not be aware of. Each has its own unique organization and focus. Also, this list is clearly not comprehensive, but the following is a great place to start when thinking about how many people are dedicated to helping.

Agency / Country / Website	Unique Aspects of Work	Approximate Number of Employees
India Meteorological Department (IMD) / India / https://mausam.imd.gov.in/	Specializes in monsoon forecasting for Ganges-Brahmaputra basin floods; operates world’s largest tropical cyclone warning program for the Indian Ocean; supports agriculture with agro-meteorological services.	~6,000 (Based on 2019-2020 annual report)
China Meteorological Administration (CMA) / China / www.cma.gov.cn/en	Manages vast weather observation network with AI-driven forecasting; monitors floods in Yangtze and Yellow River basins; supports China’s climate policy initiatives.	~60,000 (Estimated based on vast network size)
Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) / Bangladesh / www.bmd.gov.bd	Focuses on flood and cyclone warnings for Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna delta; provides community-based early warning systems for coastal areas.	~1,000 (Estimated due to limited public data)
Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) / Pakistan / www.pmd.gov.pk	Emphasizes monsoon and glacial lake outburst flood forecasting for Indus River basin; offers climate services for arid and semi-arid flood-prone regions.	~1,500 (Inferred from 2017 data)
Agency for Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics (BMKG) / Indonesia / www.bmkg.go.id	Monitors weather and geophysical hazards across an archipelago; focuses on urban flooding in Jakarta and tsunami warnings; integrates traditional knowledge in early warning systems.	~5,000 (Based on 2008 data)
Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) / Philippines / www.pagasa.dost.gov.ph	Tracks 20 typhoons annually; provides flood and storm surge warnings for Cagayan and Pasig-Marikina basins; supports urban disaster risk reduction in Manila.	~1,200 (Estimated from 2018 reports)
Met Office / United Kingdom / www.metoffice.gov.uk	Renowned for global climate modeling via Hadley Centre; provides aviation and defense weather services; contributes to IPCC climate reports.	~2,200 (Per 2023 reports)
Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) / Japan / www.jma.go.jp	Integrates weather, earthquake, and tsunami monitoring; leads Western Pacific typhoon forecasting; provides advanced early warning systems.	~5,000 (Estimated based on network scope)
Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) / Canada / www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change.html	Focuses on Arctic climate monitoring; manages air and water quality programs; collaborates with NOAA on North American weather and climate issues.	~7,000 (Per 2022 government reports)
Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) / Australia / www.bom.gov.au	Specializes in tropical cyclone and bushfire weather forecasting; provides oceanographic services for the Southern Ocean and Great Barrier Reef.	~1,700 (Per 2021 annual report)
Météo-France / France / meteofrance.com	Delivers meteorological services for overseas territories; focuses on tropical cyclone and marine forecasting; leads climate services for polar and tropical regions.	~3,600 (Based on 2020 data)
Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) / Nigeria / www.nimet.gov.ng	Monitors weather for aviation and agriculture in West Africa; provides flood warnings for Niger and Benue River basins; supports climate adaptation for Sahel droughts.	~1,000 (Estimated based on network size)
National Institute of Meteorology (INMET) / Brazil / https://portal.inmet.gov.br/	Forecasts weather for Amazon and Pantanal regions; monitors drought and flood risks; supports agrometeorology for Brazil’s agricultural sector.	~300-400 (Estimated based on government reports, which indicate a smaller federal staff than previously estimated)
South African Weather Service (SAWS) / South Africa / www.weathersa.co.za	Provides weather and climate services for southern Africa; focuses on drought and flash flood forecasting; supports aviation and marine safety.	319 (Per 2022/2023 Annual Report)
Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) / Thailand / www.tmd.go.th	Monitors monsoon and typhoon-related flooding in the Mekong and Chao Phraya basins; provides aviation weather services; supports tourism with seasonal forecasts.	~1,500 (Estimated based on regional role)
Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring (Roshydromet) / Russia / www.meteorf.ru <NOT CURRENTLY AVAILABLE>	Oversees weather and climate monitoring across vast Arctic and Siberian regions; supports environmental monitoring for pollution and radiation; manages flood and wildfire risks.	~20,000 (Estimated based on vast network)