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Natural disasters, including calamities and unforeseen events such as floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, tsunamis, typhoons, landslides, droughts, and others, are some of the unavoidable events, but you can help brace for the impact when they occur. According to the latest update of the World Risk Index Report (2022), the Philippines has the highest disaster risk with an index score of 46.82, followed by India with an index score of 41.46 among 193 countries. The Philippines was also identified as being vulnerable to disasters caused by extreme natural events, including earthquakes, storms, and flooding.

What are Natural Disasters?

Natural disasters can cause injuries, loss of life, and damage to properties and the environment caused by natural forces. There are four (4) common categories of natural disasters in the Philippines: meteorological disasters, hydrological disasters, geological disasters, and biological disasters.

Common Categories of Natural Disasters in the Philippines

  • Meteorological disasters are violent, sudden, and destructive changes to the environment, particularly those related to temperature and wind. This includes heat waves, cold waves, droughts, wildfires, and hurricanes.

 

  • Hydrological disasters are described as unexpected and violent events. This hazard is associated with the occurrence, movement, and distribution of freshwater and saltwater over or below the earth’s surface. This includes floods, landslides, mudslides, and tsunamis.

 

  • Geological disasters are extreme natural events driven by geological processes, particularly plate tectonics. This includes earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

 

  • Biological disasters are caused by epidemics and infectious diseases that spread from person to person that may infect a large portion of the human population. This includes various types of diseases such as plgue, malaria, dengue fever, and COVID-19.

What is Disaster Preparedness?

Disaster preparedness is a branch of public health that teaches people how to be prepared for both natural and man-made disasters. We can reduce the fear, anxiety, and losses that come with calamities. We can also reduce the risk of various types of disasters, such as fire, earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, floods, landslides, tornadoes, volcanic eruptions, and many others before they occur or even totally avoid the danger. The primary goal of disaster preparedness is to develop preventative measures rather than solely relying on reactive responses to public health and disasters.

Why do we need to prepare for natural disasters?

We all know that natural disasters are unpredictable, that the results it will have are impossible to foresee. These natural disasters can threaten the safety and security of your family and your property. If you don’t prepare for it, you and the lives of the people you care about the most may suffer long-term consequences.

 

We tend to panic when we don't know what step or move we're going to make in an unplanned situation. In some cases, if people don't prepare, they won’t be able to exit their property. In other cases, the damage that the disaster will cause will be so extensive that they won’t be able to secure their belongings. Depending on how serious the incident was, services and utilities might not be available for a long time. Some people may not be able to receive immediate care for injuries, and some people may be short on supplies such as food and water.

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​Disasters like hurricanes, wildfires, volcanic eruptions, floods, and other events can create widespread devastation. It's not just a day or two of being sick, but it's so long that you temporarily have to find a way to provide for your family in terms of food, shelter, and a way to support yourself. While government assistance is usually available, distributing funds and supplies is often a slow and troublesome process. While some have not yet entirely recovered from major events, a large number of individuals are left not only homeless but also without any means of support as their workplaces are destroyed, structures fall and communities vanish.

As we talk about the disaster preparedness, we should also talk about what we should or what do we need to prepare before a disaster strikes. Having sufficient supplies such as food, water, and first aid kits is important. Having these supplies on hand could be useful in the aftermath of a disaster, especially if help has not yet arrived. Additionally, it should be packed and ready to go in case you need to leave and evacuate in a hurry.

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Here's an infographic of the following basic disaster supply kit you should prepare before a natural disaster happen. You can pack these items in an easy to carry container such as a camping backpack or a duffle bag.

In times of natural disasters, we can call for help, especially if you were affected severely. Here's an infographic of the following Bataan emergency hotlines that we can contact during natural disasters.

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References:

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Before a Disaster - Emergency Preparedness - 72 Hour Kit. (n.d.). Retrieved December 4, 2022, from Deschutes County Sheriff: https://sheriff.deschutes.org/divisions/special-services/emergency-management/before-a-disaster-emergency-preparedness/

 

Chaudhary, M. T. (2021, October 30). Natural disasters-origins, impacts, management. Retrieved December 4, 2022, from MDPI: https://www.mdpi.com/2673-8392/1/4/84

 

Ignoring Natural Disasters Can Result in Major Troubles. (2018, January 29). Retrieved December 4, 2022, from Insurance Solutions: https://www.isolutionsfl.com/Ignoring-Natural-Disasters-Can-Result-in-Major-Troubles-1-11.html

 

SeymourEMS. (2021, September 13). The Importance of Emergency Preparedness. Retrieved December 4, 2022, from SeymourEMS: https://www.seymourems.org/the-importance-of-emergency-preparedness/

 

Tschakert, P. Z. (n.d.). What is a Natural Hazard? . Retrieved December 4, 2022, from e-education.psu.edu: https://www.e-education.psu.edu/geog30/node/378

 

Valmonte, K. (2022, October 4). Philippines tops global disaster risk index. Retrieved December 4, 2022, from Philstar.com: https://www.philstar.com/headlines/climate-and-environment/2022/10/04/2214234/philippines-tops-global-disaster-risk-index

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