DISASTER

PREPAREDNESS
A GUIDE TO BEING READY AND SAFE IN
TIMES OF DISASTERS
P R E PA R E D B Y: J E N I E R O S E T. FA N I G
 WHAT IS A DISASTER?
• A disaster is defined as a “sudden or great misfortune” or simply “any unfortunate event.”
• A disaster, most precisely is “an event whose timing is unexpected and whose consequences are
seriously destructive.”
• A sudden event, such as an accident or a natural catastrophe, that causes great damage or loss
of life.

Synonyms: catastrophe, calamity, cataclysm, tragedy, act of God,

holocaust, accident, mishap, misadventure, mischance, setback,
reversal, reverse of fortune, contretemps, stroke of ill luck, problem,
difficulty, heavy blow, shock, buffet, adversity, trouble, misfortune,
ruin, ruination, tribulation, woe, distress, casualty, bale, mishanter.
Disaster Hazard- can be defined as a potentially damaging physical event, social and economic
disruption or environmental degradation.
Disaster Vulnerability- is the inability to resist a hazard or to respond when a disaster has
occurred. For instance, people who live on plains are more vulnerable to floods than people who
live higher up.
- it is a condition determined by physical, social, economic, and environmental factors or
processes, which increase the susceptibility of a community to the impact of hazards.
Disaster Risk- is expressed as the likelihood of loss of life, injury or destruction and damage from
a disaster in a given period of time.
Disaster Risk Assessment- a qualitative or quantitative approach to determine disaster risk by
analysing potential hazards and evaluating existing conditions of exposure and vulnerability that
together could harm people, property, services, livelihoods and the environment on which they
depend on.
TYPES OF DISASTERS
1. Natural Disasters
- Are major adverse event resulting from natural processes of the
Earth.
- Ex. Floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes,
tsunamis, storms and other geologic processes
2. Man-made Disasters
- Man- made disasters or Anthropogenic disasters are caused by
human action or inaction. They are contrasted with natural hazards/
dsasters.
- They may adversely affect humans, other organisms, biomes, and
ecosystems.
3. Hybrid Disasters
- Is a man- made one, when forces of nature are unleashed as a result
of technical failure or sabotage.
WHAT IS DISASTER PREPAREDNESS?
• Refers to measures taken to prepare for and reduce the effects of disasters. That is, to predict,
and where possible, prevent disasters, mitigate their impact on vulnerable populations and
respond to and effectively cope with their consequences.
• To ready an organization for an influx of activity, and to design a coordinated plan that reduces
the waste of resources, time, and efforts.
Disaster Preparedness planning
- Involves identifying organisational resources, determining roles and responsibilities, developing
policies and procedures and planning activities in order to reach a level of preparedness to be able
to respond timely and effectively to a disaster.
IMPORTANCE OF DISASTER
PREPAREDNESS PLANNING
When any disaster strikes, whether it be natural, man- made or hybrid, the situation has a
potential to create chaos and confusion.
• Effective disaster preparedness helps alleviate some of the chaos wrought by the unexpected
crisis.
• If you follow your disaster plan, it is possible for your non-profit to be able to get back up and
running quickly and begin serving the populations affected by the disasters.
EARTHQUAKE
- Any sudden shaking of the ground
caused by the passage of seismic
waves through Earth’s rocks.
- Occurs when two blocks of the earth
suddenly slip past one another. The
surface where they slip is called the
fault or fault plane
- Destructive effects of earthquakes
include landslides/ soil erosion,
tsunamis, fires, and fault rupture.
The violent shaking of the ground
produces the greatest property losses
and personal injuries.
WHAT TO DO BEFORE?
• Make sure you have a fire extinguisher, first aid Emergency Evacuation Planning
kit, a battery- powered radio, a flashlight, and 1. Determine exit routes
extra batteries at home. 2. Determine assembly area
3. Determine evacuation alarms
• Learn first aid
4. Identify evacuation marshalls
• Learn how to turn off the gas, water, and 5. Prioritize women, children and
electricity differently abled people
• Make up a plan of where to meet your family after 6. Practice evacuation drill
an earthquake (Assembly Area)
• Don’t leave heavy objects on shelves (they’ll fall
during quake)
• Anchor heavy furniture, cupboards, and
appliances to the walls or floor
• Learn the earthquake plan at your school or
workplaces
WHAT TO DO DURING?
• Stay CALM! If you’re indoors, stay inside. If you’re outside, stay Do the DUCK, COVER, and
HOLD
outside.
• If you’re indoors, stand against a wall near the center of the building,
stand in a doorway, or crawl under heavy furniture (a desk or table).
Stay away from windows and outside doors.
• If you’re outdoors, stay in the open away from power lines or anything
that might fall. Stay away from buildings (stuff might fall off the
building or the building itself could fall on you).
• Don’t use matches, candles, or any flame. Broken gas lines and fire
don’t mix.
• If you’re in a car, stop the car and stay inside the car until the
earthquake stops.
• Don’t use elevators (they’ll probably get stuck anyway)
WHAT TO DO AFTER?
• Check yourself and others for injuries. Provide • Stay away from beaches. Tsunamis and seiches
first aid for anyone who needs it. sometimes hit after the ground has stopped
• Check water, gas, and electric lines for shaking.
• Stay away from damaged areas.
damage. If any are damaged, shut off the
• If you’re at school or work, follow the
valves. Check for the smell of gas. If you smell
emergency plan or the instructions of the person
it, open all the windows and doors, leave
in charge
immediately, and report it to the authorities •
Expect aftershocks.
(use someone else’s phone).
• Turn on the radio. Don’t use the phone unless
it’s an emergency.
• Stay out of damaged buildings.
• Be careful around broken glass and debris.
Wear boots or sturdy shoes to keep from
cutting your feet.
VOLCANIC ERUPTIONS
- A volcano is an opening in the Earth’s crust If you are under a volcano warning:
that allows molten rock, gases, and debris to
escape to the surface. • Listen for emergency information and alerts
- A volcanic eruption may involve a lava and • Follow evacuation or shelter orders. If advised
other debris that can flow up to 100 mph, to evacuate, then do so early
destroying everything in their path. Volcanic • Avoid areas downstream of the eruption
ash can travel 100s of miles and cause severe • Protect yourself from falling ash
health problems. • Do not drive in heavy ash fall
- A volcanic eruption can:
 Contaminate water supplies
 Damage machinery
 Reduce visibility through smog and
harmful gases that may threaten low-
lying areas
 Make it hard to breathe and irritate the
skin, eyes, nose, and throat.
 PREPARE NOW
• Know your area’s risk from volcanic eruption • Have a shelter-in-place plan if your biggest risk
is from ash.
• Ask local emergency management for evacuation and • Keep important documents in a safe place.
shelter plans, and for potential means of protection Create password-protected digital copies
from ash • Find out what your homeowner’s insurance
• Learn about community warning systems by signing policy will cover when a volcano erupts
up for a free service called the Volcano Notification
Service (VNS)/ PHIVOLCS that sends notifications
about volcanic activity.
• Get necessary supplies in advance in case you have
to evacuate immediately, or if services are cut off.
Keep in mind each person’s specific needs, including
medication. Do not forget the needs of pets.
• Practice a communication and evacuation plan with
everyone in your family.
SURVIVE DURING
• Listen to alerts. The PHIVOLCS provides up-to-date information
about eruptions
• Follow evacuation orders from local authorities. Evacuate early.
• Avoid areas downwind, and river valleys downstream, of the
volcano. Rubble and ash will be carried by wind and gravity
• Take temporary shelter from volcanic ash where you are if you have
enough supplies. Cover ventilation openings and seal doors and
windows
• If outside, protect yourself from falling ash that can irritate skin and
injure breathing passages, eyes, and open wounds. Use a well- fitting,
certified face mask such as an N95. The DOH has a list of certified
masks and the maker’s instructions on how to use the masks
• Avoid driving in heavy ash fall
BE SAFE AFTER
• Listen to authorities to find out when it is safe to return after
an eruption
• Send text messages or use social media to reach out to family
and friends. Phone systems are often busy after a disaster.
Only make emergency calls.
• Avoid driving in heavy ash. Driving will stir up volcanic ash
that can clog engines and stall vehicles.
• If ou have any breathing problems, avoid contact with ash.
Stay indoors until authorities say it is safe to go outside.
• Do not get on your roof to remove as unless you have
guidance or training. If you have to remove ash, then be very
careful as ash makes surfaces slippery. Be careful not to
contribute additional weight to an overloaded roof
FIRE
- Wildfires occur when vegetated areas are set alight
and are particularly common during hot and dry
periods.
- They can occur in forests, grasslands, brush and
desserts, and with sufficient wind can rapidly
spread.
- It can be deadly, destroying homes, wildlife habitat
and timber, and polluting the air with emissions
harmful to human health. Fire also releases carbon
dioxide- a key greenhouse gas- into the
atmosphere.
- Fires effect on the landscape may be long- lasting
AVOIDING FIRE
• Install smoke alarms on every level of your residence and do • Sleep with your door closed
proper maintenance • Install fire extinguishers in your residence and
teach family members how to use them
• Review escape routes with your family. Practice escaping from
• Consider installing an automatic fire sprinkler
each room
system in your residence
• Consider escape ladders if your residence has more than one
• Ask your local fire department to inspect your
level
residence for fire safety and prevention
• Never use flammable liquids indoors
• Never smoke near flammable liquids
• Be careful when using heating sources and cooking burners
• Keep matches and lighters up high, away from children and, if
possible, in a locked cabinet
• Never smoke in bed or when drowsy or medicated. Provide
smokers with deep, sturdy ashtrays.
• Have the electrical wiring in your residence checked by an
electrician
DURING THE FIRE
• If your clothes catch on fire, you should stop, drop, and
roll- until the fire is extinguished. Running only makes the
fire burn faster
• To escape a fire, you should check closed doors for heat
before you open them. If the door is hot, do not open. Try
to escape through other door or window
• If the door is cool, open slowly and ensure fire and/ or
smoke is not blocking your escape route.
• Crawl low under any smoke to your exit- heavy smoke
and poisonous gases collect first along the ceiling
• Close doors behind you as you escape to delay the spread
of the fire.
AFTER A FIRE
• Once in a safe place, call or report about the
fire outbreak and inform about your safety/
assistance required
• Await further instructions from the fire
emergency department and stay safe in the
refuge area
• Don’t panic or hinder the evacuation or fire
exhaustion process
TYPHOONS
• A typhoon is a type of large storm system having a circular or
spiral system of violent winds, typically hundreds of
kilometres or miles in diameter.
• “Hurricane” is the name given to these storms in the Atlantic
Ocean and Eastern Pacific.
• In the Indian Ocean, they are called “Tropical Cyclones”
• Typhoons can generate winds of more than 75 miles per hour
and cause major flooding through their intense rainfall and
storm surges.
• Their effects range from structural damage to trees,
watercraft, and buildings to both immediate and long- term
impacts on human life and livelihood
BEFORE THE TYPHOON
• Store an adequate supply of food and clean water
• Prepare foods that need not be cooked
• Keep flashlights, candles, and battery-powered radios within
easy reach
• Examine your house and repair its unstable parts
• Always keep yourself updated with the latest weather report
• Harvest crops that can be yielded already
• Secure domesticated animals in a safe place
• For fisher folks, place boats in a safe area
• Should you need to evacuate, bring clothes, first aid kit,
candles/ flashlights, battery-powered radio, food, etc.
DURING THE TYPHOON
• Stay inside the house
• Always keep yourself updated with the latest weather report
• If safe drinking water is not available, boil water for at least 20
minutes. Place it in a container with cover
• Keep an eye on lighted candles or gas lamps
• Do not wade through floodwaters to avoid being electrocuted and
contracting diseases
• If there is a need to move to an evacuation center, follow these
reminders
• Evacuate calmly
• Close windows and turn off the main power switch
• Put important appliances and belongings in a high ground
• Avoid the way leading to the river
AFTER THE TYPHOON
• If your house was destroyed, make sure that it is already
safe and stable when you enter
• Beware of dangerous animals such as snakes that may
have entered your house
• Watch out for live wires or outlet immersed in water
• Report damaged electrical cables and fallen electric posts
to the authorities
• Do not let water accumulate in tires, cans or pots to avoid
creating a favourable condition for mosquito breeding
END