By 10:30 on the morning of July 30, everyone is encouraged to seriously and actively participate in the Metro Manila Shake Drill 2015.
The earthquake drill which will be participated by an estimated 5-6 million people shall be in response to the possible 7.2 magnitude earthquake that may be generated by the West Valley Fault running through Bulacan, Rizal, Metro Manila, Cavite and Laguna, and the possible 6.2 earthquake from the East Valley Fault running through Rizal. Spearheaded by the Metro Manila Development Authority, the July 30 earthquake drill will be conducted to measure the preparedness of concerned agencies such as the local governments, police force, the Red Cross, and the Bureau of Fire Protection, to name a few. The exercise hopes to increase the awareness of the people on what they should and should not do when an earthquake hits the metropolis.
Here are the scenarios we may expect on July 30: 1) Two hours before the drill, a text blast will inform the public that the drill will cover the entire Metro Manila. 2) Sirens from fire trucks, church bells and fire alarms will go off to signal the start of the drill. 3) From 10:30 to 11:30AM, an audio recording of the earthquake will be played on government radio stations. 4) MMDA would have a command center along Macapagal Avenue. 5) Oplan Metro Yakal, a contingency plan for faster disaster response divides the NCR into four quadrants: a) Those located in Caloocan, Valenzuela, Malabon and Quezon City will deal with medical and relief response and will have the Memorial Medical Center golf course as evacuation site. b) The cities of Makati, Taguig, Muntinlupa, Paranaque, Las Pinas and Pateros will deal with a debris clearing simulation and the evacuation site will be the Villamor Air Base golf course c) The cities of Navotas, Manila and Pasay will deal with a massive fire scenario and the evacuation site will be the Intramuros golf course d) A simulation of fallen structures is assigned to the cities of Marikina and Pasig; evacuation site will be the LRT-2 Santolan Depot. 6) Other scenarios will be a) high-ladder rescue operations in Ayala-Glorietta Area b) Medical triage involving residents of high-rise condominiums in Eastwood area 3) MMDA ferry boats and Coast Guard vessels along the Pasig River will transport casualties from Sta. Ana to Intramuros d) Collapsed building scenario between SM Mega Mall Buildings A and B 7) No roads will be closed but commuters and motorists should expect traffic inconvenience. Transport groups, commuters and motorists are asked to participate in the drill by staying away from materials which might fall or collapse for at least 45 seconds.
Drop, Cover and Hold is internationally recognized as the appropriate action to reduce injury and death during earthquakes. Drop (to the ground), (take) Cover (under a strudy desk or table and Hold (on to it until the shaking stops) must be performed by students, employees and customers of participating malls and establishments during the drill. The people should proceed to the establishment's evacuation area once the ringing of bells stopped, which will signify that the "shaking" has stopped.
With the impending disaster of a major earthquake from the East and West Valley Faults, we are hereby encouraged to know and share with our families and friends the Do's and Dont's during an earthquake. These are but a few tips that will help save our lives:** 1) If you are inside the house or a building, Drop, Cover and Hold on to a sturdy desk or table. Do Not attempt to run while the ground is shaking. 2) If you are in bed, do stay there and cover your head with a pillow. 3) Do get out of the kitchen immediately, as it is the one of the most dangerous parts of the house during an earthquake. 4) If you are outdoors, get into an open area and move away from trees, buildings and power lines. For those who are driving, pull up by the side of the road, making sure to stay away from falling debris and downed power lines. 5) Wherever you are, aftershocks may occur so after the grounds stop shaking, stay at your shelter for at least 60 seconds. 6) Check your family for possible injuries. Protect your home from intruders/looters. 7) Check your house/building for possible cracks, damages, broken gas line or electrical wiring. 8) Turn on your radios for news and instructions. Expect no signal for cellphones due to downed telecom lines. 9) Expect aftershocks hours or days after a major earthquake. Be prepared to be on your own for at least 72hours. 9) For those living near coastlines, know your community's tsunami evacuation procedures. Move to higher grounds immediately as soon as the grounds stop shaking.
**From an article by vancitybuzz.com
