NINE years ago Super Typhoon “Yolanda” became the new benchmark for disaster prevention and preparedness, which means that communities should be ready for typhoons with wind speed of above 300 kph. It left us key lessons.
Prepare adequately and engage. While disaster prevention should be the greater focus of our efforts, response preparedness is likewise important to prevent further casualties and reduce losses. Contingency plans are crucial in times of disasters. Local government units (LGUs) must have the political will to implement forced evacuation when called for. With adequate and proper preparation, we would already have won half the battle.
We should all be “disaster-literate”. We need to understand and believe in the risks. Everybody should be part of the solution.
Protect our environment and pursue green urban development. We need to go back to the basics: protect our ecosystems and natural buffers such as mangrove forests to mitigate floods, storm surges and other hazards. Design and enforce building standards to address future hazards, not past ones.
Governments and businesses need to let science work for our communities. The best solutions are possible only with the guidance of science. Develop land use plans that are risk sensitive. The dictum is not just to build, but build stronger. Build for the future.
Also, we must focus on managing the risks rather than managing disasters. Local disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation plans are indispensable. Funds should be sufficiently allocated. Cooperation among local and national governments, businesses, and the communities is imperative.
All these, of course, would be challenging and may cost more, but it is more challenging and more costly to provide relief and rebuild communities every single time a typhoon arrives or a strong earthquake occurs because of lack of preparedness.
Natural hazards are inevitable but we can prevent them from turning into disasters if we are prepared and wise.
