Are we prepared?

By Maria Christina I. Concepcion
Contributor

CIRCULATING in social media today are posts about the numerous oar fishes and other sea creatures that were found in different areas in the country, particularly in Mindanao. People are beginning to feel worried that a calamity might be impending as these sea creatures are said to come out as a sign of an approaching calamity or disaster, specifically a strong earthquake. Whether there’s truth to this or not, nobody can really tell. However, there’s one old adage that can be very helpful today as we all face the uncertainty of what lies ahead. This old adage says, “When we are prepared we shall not fear.” Hence our primary question today should be: are we prepared in case a calamity strikes?

First and most important of all, we are expected to do the right thing! We are expected to act fast and sensibly. It is the surest way to survive.

When an earthquake happens and we are outdoors, we have been taught to stay in the open, to move away from buildings, streetlights, and utility wires, and to stay put until the earthquake finally stops. We are warned not to stay near buildings, exits, and beside exterior walls. When we are indoors we are advised to drop down, take cover under a sturdy desk or table and to stay indoors until the shaking stops. We are also warned to stay away from bookcases and furniture as these can fall on us. When the shaking stops, then and only then can we go out of the building towards a safer place.

What if the earthquake happens when we’re all out of our homes, our kids are in school and we’re in our offices? How do we find our kids? How do we find out if they’re okay? What if we lose network services and mobile phones are of no use? Worst case scenarios are often seen only in movies and television shows, but what if it will happen to us? Are we prepared?

Here are two things what we should do:

1) We should discuss earthquakes with our family and agree on a meeting place in case of an emergency. When we have an emergency plan it helps lessen fear and anxiety and allows all the members of the family to respond appropriately. Everyone should know what to do in case the family members are not together when a calamity strikes.

2) Agree to contact someone who lives somewhere else, relatives for example, and make sure that all the members of the family knows by heart the contact numbers and home addresses of these relatives. During emergencies it is usually easier to contact those who are outside of the affected area. If the members of the family are separated, it is best to inform these relatives so they can keep other family members informed.

Calamities like earthquakes come without any warning, but with adequate preparation, we can be sure that our family will know what to do should it happen. Theodore Roosevelt once said, “Make preparations in advance – you never have trouble if you are prepared for it.”