Editorial

Our readiness when tremor strikes?

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council rated as “unprepared” the readiness of the population in Mindanao when a strong tremor would hit the island. Mindanao was shaken when a Magnitude 6.3 hit North Cotabato last October 16 in the evening (7:37 p.m.) which the Philippines Institute of Volcanology and Seismology measured as “moderately strong.” The island span trembled, including Cotabato City at Intensity 4, while the rest the weakest far away from the epicenter. That Mindanaons are not used to experience strong earthquakes could explain the “unpreparedness” when the real disastrous culprit comes. 

Aftershooks were expected and recorded at some 700 as of October 22 and may continue for a month at a time when the Phivolcs discovered a fault along the stretch of North Cotabato. Consoling was the least human casualty registered at seven but there were several damages on infrastructures, including some hospitals, public buildings and schools, and not well-built residences.

It is still the norm that people rush out of buildings to seek safety on open fields or spaces to be first spared from falling debris or collapse of structures. Replay of CCTVs on malls showed people rushing toward the exits rather than initially apply the “duck, cover, and hold” scheme when tremor strikes before going out of buildings or even homes for assurance of safety until the shake makes tame. Really, people have yet to develop the initial “safety belt” when a big earthquake occurs. Big quakes indeed trigger panic and trauma causing adrenaline to spike as many would instinctively look for open spaces to be free from fall-outs… normal behavior out of fear. 

The danger lies on buildings which may crack and collapse in effect of strong tremors. Local government units and building contractors have a big role to play to ensure the sturdiness of structures to withstand, to a certain point, the tremor hit to prevent huge damages, including lives. Naturally, the first to be secured are the human population.

Do contractors or builders follow the standard requirements in building construction? Do residential owners take into account the standards in building their homes so occupants would really feel safe and secured from disaster? The government’s engineering department and other enforcement agencies have to ascertain that construction of physical infrastructures follow the rules and building inspections have to be continuing and not on seldom basis. In a big earthquake, the few seconds or minutes count the most to ascertain the safety of humans before they can be settled on safer grounds  until normalcy is back. But then we have the aftershocks. Previous disasters  spelled out the deficiencies of collapsed structures, which showed violations in structural engineering, including ground formation if these are concretes for buildings. Many things have to be considered in the building of physical structures considering that our country lies on the “ring of fire” where there abounds volcanic eruptions and earth quakes.

For the record, the Phivolcs bared that our country is hit by some 20 earthquakes a day, many of them not felt because of very low magnitude. We cannot, however, wait for the “big one” to come… we have to stand ready when it strikes anytime. We have now to develop the culture of disaster preparedness and response.  Joining drills is one initial step and then integrating safety valves into our life system. However, “it is easier said than done.”

Whatever… Be prepared always.