SOME people are still talking about the earthquakes that hit two areas in the Philippines.
The first one was on Easter Monday, April 22, in Zambales and neighboring provinces in Luzon. The following day, another earthquake struck Eastern Visayas. Cebu felt the tremors, with the city areas experiencing magnitude 3.
Earthquakes are unpredictable. The only action people can do is to take earthquake drills seriously and when the calamity does strike, to remain calm.
Last Monday, my Aunt Tita Bliltte gathered the family in the living room to remind us to say a prayer for the areas shaken by the earthquake.
There were 10 of us, so it meant we had 10 rounds of prayers.
My Uncle Gustave said: “It’s tragic. Time and time again Philvocs warned people about earthquakes. It did its job well in informing people on what to do. From the same government agency, I learned that aftershocks often follow the main tremor. In a news dispatch, the agency advised people to stay calm.”
Peetong, my cousin Dona’s husband, said: “Philvolcs executive director Renato Solidum explained that when the fault line moves, it does not immediately stop. This is why we still have aftershocks.”
I am using my tiny store to hold a reminder on earthquake preparedness. My materials were culled from Philvolcs, GMA7, ABS-CBN and Rappler.
SAFETY.
Move away from glass windows and facades.
Avoid standing near posts and concrete walls and structures.
Do not immediately believe a tsunami will occur, unless it is announced by legitimate media and Philvolcs. Tsunamis are caused when an earthquake’s epicenter is from the sea.
Stay indoors if the building you are in is sound or you are at home. But if you can, open the door quickly to exit. If you are in a high-rise building, duck under a table or desk. Hold on to it.
If I may add, remember what you learned from those earthquake drills.
SURVIVAL PACK.
I searched the internet and every site I entered gave more or less the same tips on what to pack for a typhoon. A zippered bag that opens flat makes a good survival bag.
Bare essentials include whistle, bottled water, flashlights with extra batteries, battery-operated phone charger, easy-open canned food, chocolates packed in a plastic food keeper, tissue or toilet paper, first aid kit, blanket, prescribed medicine, pocket knife, rope, plastic cups, toiletries and radio.
If possible every family member should have a personal survival pack. Store these at a designated place.