MODULE ON DISASTER PREPAREDNESS

Objectives:
• Define the terms DISASTER, PREPAREDNESS, AND DISASTER PREPAREDNESS.
• Identify the legal basis for disaster preparedness in the Philippines.
• Recognize the Philippine Disaster Risk Profile.
• Identify the natural hazards in the Philippines.
• Recognize the different tips and strategies on what to do before and during disaster.

I. Define the terms DISASTER, PREPAREDNESS, AND DISASTER PREPAREDNESS.

a. What is DISASTER?
• Serious disruption of the functioning of a community or society which exceeds the ability of
the affected community or society to cope using its own resources.
• A result of the combination of the exposure to a hazard; conditions of vulnerability that are
present; and insufficient capacity or measures to reduce or cope with the potential negative
consequences.
• Impacts may include loss of life, injury, disease, or other negative effects on the physical,
mental and social well-being, together with the damage to property, destruction of assets,
loss of services, social and economic disruption and environmental degradation.” (RA1021)

b. What is PREPAREDNESS?
• “Pre-disaster actions and measures being undertaken within the context of disaster risk
reduction and management and are based on sound risk analysis as well as pre-disaster
activities to avert or minimize loss of life and property such as, but not limited to,
community organizing, training, planning, equipping, stockpiling, hazard mapping, insuring
of assets, and public information and education initiatives. (RA1021)

c. What is DISASTER PREPAREDNESS?

• “It is knowledge and capacities developed by governments, professional response and
recovery organizations, communities and individuals to effectively anticipate, respond to,
and recover from, the impacts of likely, imminent or current hazard events or conditions.”
(RA1021)

II. IDENTIFY THE LEGAL BASIS FOR DISASTER PREPAREDNESS IN THE PHILIPPINES.
a. Republic Act 10121
• THE PHILIPPINE DISASTER RISK REDUCTION AND MANAGEMENT ACT OF 2010
• “An Act Strengthening the Philippine DRRM System, Providing for the National DRRM
Framework and Institutionalizing the National DRRM Plan, Appropriating Funds Therefor and
for Other Purposes”

III. RECOGNIZE THE PHILIPPINE DISASTER RISK PROFILE.

a. The Philippines
• The Philippines (officially known as the Republic of the Philippines is a sovereign island
country in Southeast Asia situated in the Western Pacific Ocean. It consists of 7,107 islands
that are categorized broadly under three main geographical divisions: Luzon, Visayas, and
Mindanao. The capital city of the Philippines is Manila and the most populous city is Quezon
City; both are part of Metro Manila.

b. Pacific Ring of Fire

• The Philippines is located at the western segment of the pacific ring of fire, where the active
volcanoes and earthquake generators are found. On average, our country experiences an
average of 20 earthquakes a day only a few are felt by men.
 c. Pacific Typhoon Belt
• The Philippines is also located at the pacific typhoon belt. We experience an average of 20
typhoons a year, 5-7 of those are said to be destructive. Typhoon Yolanda is the most
devastating amongst the typhoons that entered the par.

d. Philippine Earthquake Events

• The circles represent the earthquake events. The bigger the circle the larger the earthquake,
only Palawan has not experienced an earthquake as often as seen in the map.

e. Tsunami Vulnerability Map

• The tsunami vulnerability map illustrates the presence of several trenches in the country
that would generate a tsunami when it moves. Our country can also experience a tsunami
event from other parts of the world.

IV. IDENTIFY THE NATURAL HAZARDS IN THE PHILIPPINES.

a. Storm Surges
• a coastal flood or tsunami-like phenomenon of rising water commonly associated with low
pressure weather systems (such as tropical cyclones and strong extratropical cyclones), the
severity of which is affected by the shallowness and orientation of the water body relative to
storm path, and the timing of tides. 

b. Floods
• an overflow of water that submerges land which is usually dry.

c. Tropical Cyclones
• a rapidly rotating storm system characterized by a low-pressure center, strong winds, and a
spiral arrangement of thunderstorms that produce heavy rain. 

d. Earthquakes
• the perceptible shaking of the surface of the Earth, which can be violent enough to destroy
major buildings and kill thousands of people. The severity of the shaking can range from
barely felt to violent enough to toss people around.

e. Tsunamis
• also known as a seismic sea wave, is a series of waves in a water body caused by the
displacement of a large volume of water, generally in an ocean or a large
lake. Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and other underwater explosions (including
detonations of underwater nuclear devices), landslides, glacier calvings, meteorite
impacts and other disturbances above or below water all have the potential to generate a
tsunami.

f. Volcanic Eruptions
• the sudden occurrence of a violent discharge of steam and volcanic materials:
Lava, rocks, dust, ash and gas compounds are some of the materials.

g. Landslides
• the movement of rock, debris or earth down a slope. They result from the failure of the
materials which make up the hill slope and are driven by the force of gravity.
• known also as landslips, slumps or slope failure.
 h. Drought
• a period of below-average precipitation in a given region, resulting in prolonged shortages in
its waters supply, whether atmospheric, surface or ground water. 

V. RECOGNIZE THE DIFFERENT TIPS AND STRATEGIES ON WHAT TO DO BEFORE AND DURING
DISASTER.
a. Fire
a.i Tips to avoid fire:
• Remove unused appliances from sockets to avoid electrical overload.
• Properly store or dispose chemicals that may ignite fire like gasoline away from
children’s reach. This may start fire if it reaches the desired temperature to ignite.

b.i What to do during fire:

• Plan your safest escape route out of the building.
• When the fire alarm sounds, evacuate immediately.
• Crawl under the smoke to get outside a room full of smoke. Usually, the smoke stayson
the topmost part of the room.
• Use the staircase upon going down the building instead of using the elevator.
• Before you open a door, first feel the door and door knob. Be alert to immediately close
it whenever there is fire or smoke.
• If ever you are unable to get outside the building, cover all spaces between doors to
avoid the smoke from entering the room.

b. Fire
b.i What to do before an earthquake:
• Determine the site where a structure is to be built whether it is near an active fault or
prone to landslide.
• Familiarize yourself with your home and workplace.
• Check stability of hanging objects and decorations for most injuries occur due to falling
objects.

b. 2 What to do during an earthquake:

• DO NOT PANIC.
• If you are inside a structurally sound building, stay inside. Protect body from falling
debris by taking cover a sturdy table.
• When driving a vehicle, pull to the side of the road and stop.

c. Typhoon
c.i What to do when there’s a typhoon:
• Tune in to the radio and television regarding update on safety.
• When your home is prone to flooding, immediately evacuate to your nearest designated
evacuation area.
• Stock up ready-to-eat goods such as canned goods, new batteries, drinking water and
gasoline.
• Avoid places prone to landslides such as mountain slopes.
• Never attempt to cross a river with strong flow or current.
• Never plug in appliances when it starts to flood.
• If possible, make sure to always turn cellular phone and telephone line on for any case
of emergency and updates.
d. Volcanic Eruption
d.i What to do during volcanic eruption
• Immediately evacuate if direction of lahar moves towards your location.
• If you are indoors, keep doors and windows closed.
• If you are outdoors, look for a place to serve as shelter.
• Take livestock to a safe location.
• When ash starts to fall, wear clothing with long sleeves, make sure to protect your eyes,
and to cover nose and mouth with face mask or with clean cloth.
• Always make self-updated with latest updates and emergency measures from
authorities.