What to do BEFORE an Earthquake:
1. The key to Successful Disaster prevention is Planning
Find out whether the site is along an active fault and / or prone to landslide which may cause damage to your house.
Be sure that proper structural design and engineering practice is followed when constructing a house or Building.
Analyze the structural soundness of building and important infrastructure; strengthen or retrofit if found necessary.
2. Familiarize yourself with your place of work and residence.
Identify relatively strong parts of the buildings like
‑ Door jambs
‑ Near elevator shafts
‑Sturdy
‑Tables
Where you can take refuge during earthquakes.
Learn to use fire extinguishers, first aid kits alarms and emergency exit. These should be accessible/conveniently located, and prominently marked.
3. Prepare your place of work and residence for the event.
Strap heavy Furniture/cabinets to the wall to prevent sliding or topping.
Breakable items , harmful chemicals and flammable materials should be stored in the lowermost shelves and secured family.
Make it a habit to turn off gas tanks when not in use.
4. Most causes of injuries during earthquakes are from falling objects.
Heavy materials should be kept in lower shelves.
Check the stability of hanging objects which may break loose and fall during earthquakes.
What to do DURING an Earthquake:
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What to do AFTER an Earthquake:
1. If you are inside an old , weak structure, take the fastest and safest away!
Do not rush to exit ; get out calmly in an orderly manner.
Do not use elevators, use the stairs.
Check yourself and others for injuries.
2. Help Reduce the number of casualties from the earthquake.
Don’t enter partially damaged buildings; strongs aftershocks may cause these to collapse.
Gather information and disaster prevention instructions from battery-operated radios.
Obey public safety precautions.
3. Check your surroundings.
Clean up chemical spills , toxic and flammable materials to avoid any chain of unwanted events.
Check for fire and if any, have it controlled.
Check your water and electrical lines for defects.
4. Unless you need emergency help.
Do not use your telephone to call relatives and friends. Disaster prevention authorities may need the line for emergency communication.
Do not use your car and drive around areas of damage , rescue and relief operations need the roads for mobility.
5. If you may evacuate your residence, leave a message stating where you are going.
Take with you your earthquake survival kit, which should include all necessary items for your protection and comforts.
Memorandum Circular order No. 043-S-2017
From: Atty. Elpidio F. Barzaga , JR. ( City Mayor )
In this regard , everyone is enjoined to actively participate and abide by the following guidelines:
1. Set the alarms/ sirens at 9:00 a.m. for a period of 3 minutes to signify a simulated earthquake.
2.Execute the DUCK , COVER and HOLD technique for a period of 3 minutes whether you are inside or outside of your homes , schools, offices, and other structures upon hearing the alarm/siren at 9:00 a.m. until 9:03 a.m.
3. If riding a vehicle , put it to a stop and execute the DUCK , COVER , and HOLD technique for a period of 3 minutes. However, if the vehicle is on a bridge , alight and find an open space where you can execute the DUCK, COVER and HOLD technique. if At 9:03 a.m. resume driving and proceed to your destination
4.If on a pedestrian overpass, descend and find an open space where you can execute the DUCK, COVER and HOLD technique .
5. After the 3 minute alarm/siren at exactly 9:03 a.m. , evacuate from your homes, schools, officers and other structures and proceed to the designated evacuation area or an open space . if there is no open space , go to the nearest street.
6. At 9:10 am everybody can return to their homes, schools , offices or other structures and return to their usual routine.
7. In case of rain, everyone is still enjoined to sound the siren/alarm and do the DUCK, COVER, and HOLD technique structures or vehicles.