THE HOLDING of this year’s first-quarter online quake drill yesterday had hopefully ensured preparedness during earthquake disasters, even with the ongoing pandemic.
We must continue to be vigilant. We are a country prone to earthquakes which occur unannounced every now and the. We must not forget that.
According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), there are three things that need one’s attention when it comes to earthquake preparedness. These are safe place, safe construction, and safe community.
People need to help themselves as help from others will not arrive right away during large-scale earthquakes. This means each of us needs to make sure we know what to do before, during and after an earthquake, and these can be achieved better through drills by simulating responses at home or offices.
In terms of ensuring a safe place, one must locate houses or buildings in areas not prone to faulting (where ground rupture can happen). Other areas that must be avoided are those that are highly vulnerable to hazards like landslides.
Safe construction, on the other hand, can be ensured by following the National Building Code with the right design, right materials and right workmanship.
The public must give focus on the safety of the community or organization, in which preparedness and response plans are developed and tested by conducting drills. Hence participation in drills is important. This will increase the chance of people surviving a strong earthquake.
The regular conduct of earthquake drills would effectively instill disaster preparedness in our citizens. And the drills should include practice and instruction concerning the location, use and operation of emergency exits, fire escapes, doors and fire extinguishers and other facilities provided for such purpose in buildings.
We must enhance our resiliency to disasters by preparing the citizenry, particularly school children and the occupants of healthcare institutions, their administrators, operators, and personnel on the proper response and actions to take. We have to do this to reduce the risks on their lives, limb and properties.
