THE PHILIPPINES IS ONE OF THE MOST DISASTER

PRONE COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD. THE ANNUAL

LOSSES FROM DISASTER ACCOUNT MORE THAN 0.5
PERCENT OF GDP. IN ADDITION TO THIS SIGNIFICANT
ECONOMIC COST, THERE ARE SUBSTANTIAL SOCIAL
AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS.
•CONFLAGRATION – A LARGE DISASTROUS FIRE
INVOLVING NUMEROUS BUILDING/ HOUSES OR
STRUCTURES.
•
DISASTERS – A SERIOUS DISRUPTION OF THE
COMMUNITY’S FUNCTION OR A SOCIETY CAUSING
A WIDESPREAD HUMAN, MATERIAL, ECONOMIC OR
ENVIRONMENTAL LOSSES ACCORDING TO THE
ASEAN AGREEMENT AND DISASTER MANAGEMENT
AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE. (JULY 26, 2005)
• DISASTER CONTROL– THE ACT OF LIMITING OR MITIGATING THE
EFFECTS OF DISASTER THROUGH THE INTRODUCTION OF MEASURES
DESIGNED TO PREPARE THE INHABITANT AND TO PROTECT THEIR
LIVES AND PROPERTIES BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER A DISASTER.
• DISASTER MANAGEMENT – THE RANGE OF ACTIVITIES PRIOR TO,
DURING AND AFTER DISASTERS, DESIGNED TO MAINTAIN, CONTROL
OVER DISASTERS AND TO PROVIDE A FRAMEWORK FOR HELPING AT-
RISK PERSONS AND/OR COMMUNITIES TO AVOID, MINIMIZE OR
RECOVER FROM THE IMPACT OF THE DISASTERS. (ASEAN
AGREEMENT, 2005)
• DISASTER RISK REDUCTION – ACCORDING TO ASEAN AGREEMENT
(2005) MEANS A CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK OF ELEMENTS
CONSIDERED WITH THE POSSIBILITIES TO MINIMIZE VULNERA-
BILITIES AND DISASTER RISKS THROUGH MITIGATION AND
PREPAREDNESS TO AVOID THE ADVERSE IMPACT OF HAZARDS,
WITHIN THE BROAD CONTEXT OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT.
• EARTHQUAKES – ARE EARTH VIBRATIONS PRODUCED WHEN THE
STABILITY OF ROCK MASSES UNDER THE SURFACE OF THE EARTH IS
DISTURBED. THE DISTURBANCES USUALLY OCCUR ALONG EXISTING
FAULT LINES OR ZONES OF STRUCTURAL WEAKNESSES.
• FLOOD – IS THE CONDITION THAT OCCURS WHEN WATER
OVERFLOWS THE NATURAL OR ARTIFICIAL CONFINES OF A STREAM
OR BODY OF WATER, OR WHEN RUN-OFF WATERS FROM HEAVY
RAINFALL ACCUMULATES OVER LOW-LYING AREAS.
• POLLUTION – IS ANY ENVIRONMENTAL ELEMENTS AND
ATMOSPHERIC AIR HARMFUL OR DETRIMENTAL OR INJURIOUS TO
HUMAN BEINGS, ANIMALS, PLANTS AND AFFECTS ECOLOGICAL
BALANCE OF NATURE, IT IS BROUGHT BY UNSCRUPULOUS
DISCHARGE OF LIQUID, GASEOUS OR SOLID SUBSTANCE INTO
LAND/ SOIL, NATURAL WATERS, ATMOSPHERIC AIR OR SPACE,
CREATING HARMFUL ENVIRONMENTAL ELEMENTS.
• TSUNAMI – ACCORDING TO NATIONAL CALAMITIES AND
DISASTER PREPAREDNESS PLAN (AUGUST 24, 1988) IS A SERIES OF
TRAVELING OCEAN WAVES OF LONG LENGTH AND PERIOD USUALLY
BY A SEISMIC DISTURBANCES IN THE OCEAN FLOOR OR CONFINES,
WHICH UPON REACHING THE SHORE, LOSSES SPEED BUT
INCREASES IN HEIGHT.
• VOLCANIC ERUPTION – PERTAINS TO THE VOLCANIC MATERIALS
EJECTED SUCH AS LAVA, ASHES, ROCK FRAGMENTS, STEAM AND
OTHER GASES THROUGH A FISSURE BROUGHT ABOUT BY TREMEN-
DOUS PRESSURE WHICH FORCES OPEN THE ROCK FORMATION
OVERLYING POCKETS OF MOLTEN ROCKS OR STEAM RESERVOIRS
FOUND UNDER EARTH’S CRUST (PD 1566, JULY 1978)
•FLOODS ARE THE MOST COMMON AND DESTRUCTIVE OF ALL NATURAL
CALAMITIES. IT IS THE CONDITION THAT OCCURS WHEN WATER
OVERFLOWS THE NATURAL OR ARTIFICIAL CONFINES OF A STREAM OR
BODY OF WATER OR WHEN RUN-OFF HEAVY RAINFALL ACCUMULATES
OVER LOW-LYING AREAS.
•THE EFFECT OF FLOODS CAN BE LOCAL, IMPACTING A NEIGHBORHOOD
OR COMMUNITY OR VERY LARGE, AFFECTING ENTIRE RIVER BASINS
AND MULTIPLE CITIES AND TOWNS.
THE FOLLOWING ARE SUGGESTIONS TO PREPARE FOR A
FLOOD:
1. BUILDING STRUCTURES IN A FLOODPLAIN SHOULD BE AVOIDED,
UNLESS THERE WILL BE PROVISIONS FOR REINFORCEMENT AND
ELEVATIONS.
2. IN ORDER TO STOP THE FLOOD WATER FROM ENTERING THE BUILDING,
CONSTRUCT BARRIERS. (LEVEES, BEAMS, FLOODWALLS)
3. TO PREVENT FLOOD-WATER FROM BACKING UP INTO THE DRAINS OF
YOUR HOMES, ‘CHECK VALVES’ WHICH SHOULD BE INSTALLED IN
SEWER TRAPS.
THE FOLLOWING ARE SUGGESTIONS TO PREPARE FOR A
FLOOD:
4. TO AVOID SEEPAGE, BUILD SEAL WALLS IN BASEMENTS
WITH WATER PROOFING COMPOUNDS.
5. ELEVATE THE FURNACE, WATER HEATER AND ELECTRIC
PANEL IF SUSCEPTIBLE TO FLOODING.
IF YOUR AREA IS FLOODED, THE FOLLOWING ARE ADVICES:
1. EQUIP YOURSELF WITH INFORMATION BY LISTENING TO THE RADIO OR BY
WATCHING TELEVISION.
2. AWARENESS ON THE OCCURRENCE OF FLASH FLOODING IS IMPORTANT/
IMMEDIATELY MOVE TO HIGHER GROUNDS AND DO NOT WAIT ANYMORE
FOR INSTRUCTION IF THERE IS POSSIBILITY OF A FLASH FLOOD.
3. AWARENESS OF STREAMS, DRAINAGE CHANNELS, CANYONS AND OTHER
AREAS KNOWN TO FLOOD SHOULD BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION. WITH
OR WITHOUT TYPICAL WARNINGS AS RAIN CLOUDS OR HEAVY RAIN, FLASH
FLOODS CAN HAPPEN IN YOUR AREAS.
DO THE FOLLOWING IF YOU PREPARE TO EVACUATE:
1. SECURE YOU HOME. BRING IN OUTDOOR FURNITURE IF YOU
STILL HAVE TIME. ESSENTIAL ITEMS SHOULD BE MOVED TO
UPPER FLOORS.
2. UTILITIES AT THE MAIN SWITCHES OR VALVES SHOULD BE
TURNED OFF IF INSTRUCTED TO DO SO. ELECTRICAL
APPLIANCES SHOULD BE DISCONNECTED. IF YOUR ARE WET OR
STANDING IN WATER, ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT SHOULD NOT BE
TOUCHED.
REMEMBER THIS EVACUATION TIPS IF YOU HAVE TO LEAVE
YOUR HOME:
1. WALKING THROUGH MOVING WATER SHOULD BE
AVOIDED.
2. FLOODED AREAS SHOULD BE AVOIDED WHEN DRIVING.
DRIVING FLOOD FACTS
WHEN DRIVING IN FLOODED AREA, THE FOLLOWING ARE IMPORTANT
POINTS TO REMEMBER:
1. IF WATER IS ALREADY 6 INCHES, IT WILL ALREADY REACH THE BOTTOM
OF YOUR CAR WHICH CAN CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL AND POSSIBLE
STALLING.
A FOOT OF WATER WILL FLOAT MANY VEHICLES.
2 FEET OF RUSHING WATER CAN CARRY AWAY MOST VEHICLES
INCLUDING SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES (SUVS) AND PICK-UPS.
FOR THE PERIOD FOLLOWING A FLOOD, THE
FOLLOWING GUIDELINES SHOULD BE CONSIDERED:
1. LISTEN TO NEWS REPORTS FOR YOU TO BE ABLE TO KNOW IF THE WATER
SUPPLY IN THE COMMUNITY IS SAFE TO DRINK.
2. WATER MAY BE CONTAMINATED BY OIL, GASOLINE, OR RAW SEWAGE
THAT MAY CAUSE DISEASES, HENCE FLOOD WATER SHOULD BE AVOIDED.
3. MOVING WATER SHOULD BE AVOIDED.
4. STAY AWAY FROM DOWNED POWER LINES AND REPORT TO THE POWER
COMPANY.
5. IF THE BUILDING IS SURROUNDED BY FLOODWATERS, MOVE AND STAY
OUT IMMEDIATELY.
6. BE AWARE OF AREAS WHERE FLOODWATERS HAVE RECEDED. ROADS
MAY HAVE WEAKENED BROUGHT BY FLOODS AND COULD COLLAPSE
UNDER THE WEIGHT OF A CAR.
7. RETURN HOME ONLY WHEN AUTHORITIES DECLARE IT SAFE.
8. IMMEDIATELY REPAIR DAMAGED SEPTIC TANKS. SEWAGE SYSTEMS
WHICH ARE DAMAGED ARE SERIOUS HEALTH HAZARDS.
9. WHEN ENTERING A BUILDING, USE EXTREME CAUTION SINCE THERE
MAY BE HIDDEN DAMAGE PARTICULARLY IN FOUNDATIONS.
10. EVERYTHING THAT GOT WET SHOULD BE CLEANED AND DISINFECTED.
MUD LEFT FROM FLOODWATERS CAN CONTAIN SEWAGE AND
CHEMICALS.