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Tuesday, February 14, 2017
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THE 6.7-magnitude Surigao earthquake should jolt us all to take quake preparations seriously. We do not want to sow fear among our citizens but we have to constantly remind everyone to prepare for earthquakes because we cannot predict when they will occur.
We should at least be ready for a 7.2 magnitude earthquake. Have we forgotten the 2004 Metro Manila Earthquake Impact Reduction Study? It warned of a 7.2 magnitude earthquake in Metro Manila that may destroy 40 percent of residential buildings, cause 34,000 deaths, injure 114,000 individuals, and the ensuing fires may also result in 18,000 additional fatalities.
Retrofitting of buildings and infrastructure and conducting regular safety drills are two of the most important actions that must be taken in preparing for earthquakes. Evaluation and retrofitting of public and private infrastructure is crucial in ensuring that buildings, bridges and other similar structures can withstand strong quakes. On the other hand, earthquake drills will enable our citizens to respond quickly and this will equip our people with knowledge of what to do before, during and after such disasters. It is possible to conduct monthly safety drills in schools and hospitals? These are critical infrastructures since these are shelters for the vulnerable — children, the sick and elderly.
Among the priority steps that must be undertaken for earthquake preparedness include the establishment of an early warning system for earthquake and tsunami; determining open spaces for safe refuge when temblors occur; and crafting evacuation plans that would help citizens find out the fastest and safest way to reach open spaces and other safe areas.
Concerned government agencies must also ensure that there are back-up systems of vital utilities, especially for communication, that are considered necessary for rescue operations and speedy recovery and rehabilitation efforts.
Remember: Strong temblors can happen without warning. We should not be caught unprepared. And being prepared means that when a natural hazard such as an earthquake strikes, every citizen would know what to do and where to go, and that government agencies, both national and local, are ready to respond.
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