PAGASA has declared the end of summer. The heat is going…going…gone, but the rains come knocking. We are told to expect twenty five banshee visitors this coming rainy season: Ambo, Butchoy, Carina, Dindo, Enteng, Ferdie, Gener, Helen, Igme, Julianm Karen, Lawin, Marce, Nina, Ofel, Pepito, Quinta, Rolly, Siony, Tonio, Ulysses, Vicky, Warrend, Yoyong and Zosimo.(Whew! All of them in a span of seven months?! That’s a lot we can take, isn’t it?) Before them come clouds spiked with lightning and thunder, signaling the onslaught of a brewing storm, the making of a tai-fun. Aside from the torrents of rain, clogged drainage, and floods, this is also the time for both water-borne and vector-borne diseases. The Department of Health (DOH) have repeatedly sent warnings about water –borne diseases like the typhoid fever, cholera, leptospirosis and hepatitis A, which can be acquired through ingestion of water contaminated by human or animal feces. On the other hand, vector-borne disease like malaria, dengue and schistosomiasis are transmitted when blood-sucking insects ingest disease-producing micro-organisms during a blood meal from an infected host (human or animal) and later inject it through a new host during their subsequent blood meal (WHO). Prevention for such diseases are simple – don’t wade in flood waters especially if you have cuts of open wounds in your feet, and ensure that family has access to potable water. In addition, WHO also says that sanitary measures put in place during such emergencies would go a long way to avoiding such health issues during emergencies.
We also have to watch out for fires (fires you say when there’s so much water?) and the threat of electrocution. Yes, fires can happen when homes use candles when electricity goes kaput. And by the way, water is a good conductor of electricity, so live wires can fall into the flood water when the electrical lines fall down. I remember an article about a UST student who was electrocuted as he was crossing a flooded street because an electric pole went down right in front of him. So, watch out also for fallen electrical lines!
Let me ask you, how ready are we for all these and more?
This is not just the responsibility of the head of the family. Each individual in the family has responsibilities too. The critical aspect is in the preparation stage. Have a checklist ready. Sit down with the members of the household and discuss assignments and what to do’s. The Philippine Red Cross recommends the following emergency preparedness kit: 1) water- one gallon/person/day (3 day supply for evacuation and 2-week supply for home); 2) Food that are non-perishable and easy to prepare (3 day supply for evacuation and 2-week supply for home); 3) Flashlight; 4) extra batteries; 5) battery-powered or hand-cranked radio ; 6) First aid kit; 7) medications (7-day supply) and medical items; 8) multi-purpose tool (like a swiss knife); 9) sanitation and personal hygiene (body and laundry soaps, clean underwear; sanitary napkins for women and diapers for babies) 10) copies of personal documents (passports, birth certificates; proofs of ownerships of home and other properties; insurance policies, etc.); 11) cellphone, chargers and data banks; 11) family and emergency contact information; 12) extra cash; 13) emergency blankets; and 14) map(s) of the area. If you have children or pets, you may also consider games and activities for children; pet supplies (leash; bowls; pet food) and manual can opener. At home, you need to ensure that you have whistles; matches; sleeping bags; work gloves; scissors; towels ; rain gears; duct tape; and hard and sturdy shoes.
A long rope tied to a harness is helpful for those living in low-lying areas. Is the suggested list long? Who knows when you might need it?
When the Zamboanga Siege happened( a man-made disaster), all stores within a seven-kilometer radius of the affected areas were closed and we couldn’t buy groceries. My Mom had to give my brother a long list and he bought all the things we needed from Dipolog City, where he was assigned. Much better than queuing in open grocery stores that were opened to the public on a limited 10-people-per-group shopping policy. That’s to avoid any untoward rush incidents as people were panicking over the almost-a-month long siege. Good thing, a major food company distributed goods in sari-sari stores to allay people’s fears.
It would also help for the community to discuss where to establish evacuation centers and identify high and safe grounds. Remember, we are our first line of defense. The barangay and the local governments have their own disaster contingency plans which are activated in case of emergencies. Maybe, it will be good to know what those plans are in our specific communities.
If you are working, your company may have its own emergency response and preparedness program. Get to know them or be an active member of your company’s emergency response team. Who knows, the skills you may learn there can also save your person and that of your loved ones.
Mitigating the effects of any disaster, man-made or natural, is both a personal and a community effort. The rescuers and other responders usually come after the citizenry has already experienced the disastrous effects of any calamity.
Till next issue!
