Typhoon preparedness

To save lives and properties, do the following:

Before the typhoon

· Prepare for the coming typhoons. Starting the month of June, make sure that your house is structurally sound. Close, secure and reinforce weak parts of the house Inspect the roof attachments. Re-nail/re-tie all loose nails/ties of the roof and other parts of the building. If necessary, use fish nets and some weight in the roofing to prevent it from being carried by the wind.

· Close windows or nail them with a piece of wood. Test them for stability. Leave open a portion of the house in the leeward side, or vice versa if the wind direction changes to avoid destruction of the house due to wind pressure, inside as well as outside.

· Stock enough non-perishable food and potable water for the family good for one week. Cooking utensils and equipment, stove, LPG and emergency light should be secured in a safe place together with the water and food supplies.

· Remove breakable materials, wall decorations, contents of shelves and cabinets and clothes from clothesline and put them in safe places. Put all important documents in a water-proofed container. Transfer to the most secure room all important items and appliances.

Before the typhoon (1)

· If you have a motor vehicle, fill it with gas in case you would need it during emergency.

· For those with banca, relocate it to a high place. Invert and tie it to a stable foundation. You can also fill the banca with sand and submerge it in the water. Anchor a big banca in a well-protected place away from big waves.

· Open your radio, listen to the latest update on the typhoon and the alert signals that are being broadcast.

· Umbrella, raincoat, hard hat, boots, flash light and extra batteries will be very useful during the emergency. Have them on stand-by for immediate use.

· To avoid getting electrocuted, shut off the electric main switch before the house gets flooded.

· Know the nearest evacuation center (churches, schools, public buildings) and evacuate your family to this place, if necessary.

· When you have completed preparing for yourself and your family, try to help in the disaster preparedness effort for public structures like schools, churches, hospitals and other buildings.

Before the typhoon (2)

· Collect all debris in the yard so they would not be carried by strong winds and hurt people and destroy properties.

· If you have a dug well, cover it and remove the pail and/or the lift pump.

· Secure livestocks (chicken, cows, carabaos, goats, pigs) in cages, pens, or other enclosures, but do not tie them. You may also let them loose in the field to prevent them from being hurt.

· Clear coconut trees of dead leaves and dried branches of other trees.

Before the typhoon (3)

During the typhoon

· Stay inside the house/building. If you are outside, you may be hit by objects carried by the wind or flood, fall into open manhole or get electrocuted.

· Do not let children wade in the flood water. It is very risky. Even if children are held by the elders, they could still be carried away by flood or strong wind.

· Do not leave your location, not even to join your family. So many casualties have been reported of people who tried to run during the height of the storm.

· Hide in safe places. The safest place in your home is the smallest room located on the leeward side relative to the wind direction. You may hide under a table or any strong structure if your house is about to collapse.

· Cover your glass windows and appliances with cloth to avoid splinters.

· Wear additional clothing to avoid catching cold or other respiratory diseases.

During the typhoon

After the typhoon

· Stay in the house/building/evacuation center until a few hours after the typhoon has passed. Some residual rain and wind may still come.

· Survey the typhoon damage with great caution. Look out for fallen power lines, broken glasses, weakened structures and undermined trees.

· Disease outbreaks are always expected as an aftermath of a calamity. Cook your food adequately and boil your drinking water. Go to the health authorities for other health and sanitation assistance.

· Repair all damages in your house and premises and, upon completion, assist in the maintenance of the evacuation centers and in the rehabilitation of the disaster area.

After the typhoon

Ideas for Action:

A Technology Information Kit, November 23 - 28, 1992