Disaster Mitigation and Preparedness

• Mitigation is the effort to reduce the loss of life and property by lessening the impact of disasters.
• Mitigation can keep natural hazards from having catastrophic impacts.
• Disaster mitigation is the lessening or limitation of the adverse impacts of hazards and related disasters.
• Disaster preparedness includes knowledge and capacities developed to effectively anticipate, respond to, and recover from hazard events or conditions.
• Disaster preparedness should be in the form of manpower, money, and materials (MMM).
• Evaluation from past experience should be considered.
• Identify the location of disaster-prone areas.
• Organize communication, information, and warning systems.
• Ensure coordination and response mechanisms.
• Develop a public education program.
• Coordinate with media.
• Keep stocks of food, drugs, and other essential commodities, but not hoard.
• Families can cope with disaster by preparing in advance and working together as a team.

Family Preparedness Plan

• Identify the types of disasters most likely to happen in your area, such as man-made disasters (war, terrorism, airplane crash) and natural disasters.
• Natural disasters include geological hazards (earthquake, volcanic eruption), meteorological conditions (typhoon, hurricanes), hydrological hazards (tsunami), biological hazards (pandemic), and climatological events.
• The West Valley Fault System is capable of producing large-scale earthquakes with magnitude 7 or higher.
• The fault traverses through several cities and provinces, including Quezon City, Marikina City, and Bulacan.
• To determine if your house is located in a fault line, visit the Fault Finder, a project of DOST and PHIVOLCS.
• Learn about your community's warning system and signals, such as sirens and text messages.

Family Meeting

• Meet with your family to discuss why it is important to be prepared, stay safe, and minimize damage.
• Review the types of disasters that are most likely to occur and explain what to do in each situation.
• Assign responsibilities to each family member and plan to work together as a team.
• Decide on locations where you will meet if a disaster strikes.
• Everyone must know the address and phone number of the meeting locations.
• Document how your family will communicate if a disaster strikes, and create a family communications plan.
• Text if possible, but do not use the telephone unless it's a life threatening emergency.
• If family members are separated during a disaster, have a plan for getting back together.
• Be sure to include your family pets in the plan.
• If anyone in your family has a disability or special needs, adjust your plan accordingly.
• Discuss what to do in an evacuation and create a family evacuation plan.
• If a family member is frequently away from home, plan how you will respond if he or she is away when a disaster strikes.

Preparation

• Assemble a disaster supply kit and a go-bag.
• Make sure to have adequate water supply in case service is cut off.
• Stock emergency supplies and assemble a disaster supply kit
• Store supplies in a sturdy clearly labeled easy-to-carry container such as backpacks,
• Keep smaller disaster supplies kits in the trunk of your car.
• Take 2 copies of vital documents and give the originals in safe deposit box.
• Locate safe places in your home for each type of disaster.
• Determine the best evacuation routes from your home.
• Become trained in first aid and CPR.
• Show each member how and where to shut off utilities.
• Make a complete inventory of your home and property.
• Teach each family member to use a fire extinguisher and where to find one.

Fire Safety

• The essential steps to take if you discover a fire are Rescue, Alarm, Contain, and Extinguish (RACE).
• Post emergency contacts on the refrigerator.
• Practice emergency plans your family on a regular basis (every 6 months).
• Check your disaster supply kit (every 3 months).
• Replace stored water and food (every 3 months).
• Update any emergency contact info as changes occur.
• The proper steps to use a Fire Extinguisher are Pull, Aim, Squeeze, and Sweep (PASS).
• Purchase flood insurance as a flood mitigation option.
• Elevate your home's lowest floor above the base flood elevation (BFE).
• Install flood vents in foundation walls, garages, and other enclosed areas.
• Use flood-resistant materials in areas of your home below the BFE.
• Anchor any fuel tanks to the floor and make sure vents and fill the openings are above the BFE.
• Install a backflow valve on your sewer system to prevent sewage backup in your home.
• Add waterproof veneer to exterior walls to prevent shallow flooding from damaging your home.

Wind mitigation

• Install hurricane shutters to protect windows and glass doors.
• Fasten the roof to the walls with hurricane straps.
• Reinforce garage doors and double-entry doors to prevent failure under wind pressure.
• Maintain your property so loose things don't become missiles.
• The distance between your home and any tree should be greater than a full-grown tree's height