DISASTER MANAGEMENT

PLAN- EARTHQUAKE
Barangay 181, City of Caloocan

PREPARED BY: CAPUNDAN, NICOLE P.

PRESENTED TO: MRS. PILAR DEL CARMEN
 DISASTER MANAGEMENT PLAN

Barangay 181, Pangarap Village

City of Caloocan

Foreword
Barangay 181, being a community located in low-lying areas and is near the national fault line,
also having a numerous population, is prone to a number of disasters, which includes flooding,
earthquake, tsunami, landslide, and disease outbreak. The climate change that we are
experiencing is further aggravating the situation in the community, as future disasters are likely
to be more intense. The unplanned development and preparation, and increase in population
are other two key factors for increase in the disaster risk.

In order to manage the disaster risk, there is a need for systematic, long-term and coordinated
Disaster risk management (DRM) intervention and management. The local of Caloocan City has
built a multi-stakeholder Barangay 181 Disaster Risk Management Council to serve as
constituent in managing disasters in the community.

This council has a forward-looking plan with the goal ‘Resilient and happy lives, protected
livelihoods and properties for sustainable and progressive development’ is comprehensive that
calls for cooperation among all stakeholders. It is important to implement this plan, in letter
and spirit, of course, for effective and efficient disaster risk management in the community.

I would like to thank all the individuals who exert effort in establishing this council, as well as
the stakeholders of the Barangay 181 for supporting this intervention. I would like to express
special gratitude to the local government of Caloocan City for providing technical as well
financial assistance for this model plan, which will provide guidance for the steps to be taken by
the council. Let’s work together to make Barangay 181 disaster free.

Ms. Nicole P. Capundan

Executive Manager
Barangay 181 Disaster Risk Management Council
Pangarap Village, Caloocan City
Barangay 181 Disaster Risk Management Plan-
Earthquake

Our Vision
 Resilient and happy lives, safe livelihoods and infrastructure for sustainable development

Objectives
In order to achieve the Vision, the Disaster Risk Management Council has the following
objectives:

 To establish an effective and efficient disaster risk management systems in Barangay

181, in every area
 To set-up unified and coordinated multi-stakeholder district disaster response systems
with trigger mechanism including funding provision
 To mainstream disaster and climate risk management into barangay development
framework
 To facilitate community based disaster risk management for resilient community
 To provide special needs of vulnerable groups such as women, children, elderly and
people with disability addressed in processes and plans
Mitigation Phase- Earthquake
Earthquake risk can be reduced through local planning, codes, and ordinances, including:
 Creating a seismic safety committee to provide policy recommendations, evaluate and
recommend changes in seismic safety standards, and give an annual assessment of local and
statewide implementation of seismic safety improvements.
 Developing and distributing guidelines or passing ordinances to the stakeholders that require
developers and building owners to locate lifelines, buildings, critical facilities, and hazardous
materials out of areas subject to significant seismic hazards.
 Incorporating structural and non-structural seismic strengthening actions into ongoing building
plans and activities in the capital improvement plan to ensure that facilities remain operational for
years to come.
 Supporting financial incentives, such as low interest loans or tax breaks, for home and business
owners who seismically retrofit their structures

To better understand and assess local vulnerability to earthquakes, consider actions such as:
 Developing an inventory of public and commercial buildings that may be particularly vulnerable
to earthquake damage, including pre-1940s homes and homes with cripple wall foundations.
 Collecting geologic information on seismic sources, soil conditions, and related potential hazards.
 Creating an earthquake scenario to estimate potential loss of life and injuries, the types of
potential damage, and existing vulnerabilities within a community to develop earthquake
mitigation priorities.
 Maintaining a database to track community vulnerability to earthquake risk.
 Using GIS to map hazard areas, at-risk structures, and associated hazards (e.g., liquefaction and
landslides) to assess high-risk areas.

Reduce potential damage to critical facilities and infrastructure from future seismic events through
actions such as:
 Conducting seismic retrofitting for critical public facilities most at risk to earthquakes.
 Requiring bracing of generators, elevators, and other vital equipment in hospitals.
 Reviewing construction plans for all bridges to determine their susceptibility to collapse and
retrofitting problem bridges.
 Using flexible piping when extending water, sewer, or natural gas service.
 Installing shutoff valves and emergency connector hoses where water mains cross fault lines.

Use structural mitigation measures to reduce damage from future seismic events, such as:
 Strengthening and retrofitting non-reinforced masonry buildings and non-ductile concrete
facilities that are particularly vulnerable to ground shaking.
 Retrofitting building veneers to prevent failure.
 Building a safe room to provide protection during an earthquake.
 Installing window film to prevent injuries from shattered glass.
There are many ways to increase awareness of earthquake risk, including:
 Working with insurance industry representatives to increase public awareness of the importance
of earthquake insurance. Residential structural improvements can be factored into the process of
obtaining insurance coverage or reduced deductibles.
 Developing an outreach program about earthquake risk and mitigation activities in homes,
schools, and businesses.
 Educating homeowners on safety techniques to follow during and after an earthquake.

Property owners can retrofit existing structures to reduce damage from seismic events. Potential
actions include the following:
 Educating homeowners about structural and non-structural retrofitting of vulnerable homes and
encouraging retrofit.
 Developing a technical assistance information program for homeowners. Teaching them how to
seismically strengthen their houses can be an effective mitigation activity. The program can
include providing local government building departments with copies of existing strengthening
and repair information for distribution.
 Developing an outreach program to encourage homeowners to secure furnishings, storage
cabinets, and utilities to prevent injuries and damage. Examples include anchoring tall bookcases
and file cabinets, installing latches on drawers and cabinet doors, restraining desktop computers
and appliances, using flexible connections on gas and water lines, mounting framed pictures and
mirrors securely, and anchoring and bracing propane tanks and gas cylinders.
 Establishing a library of technical documents on structural and non-structural mitigation options
as well as model ordinances and procedures that have been used by other jurisdictions to reduce
earthquake risk
Preparedness Phase- Earthquake
Secure your space
 Identifying hazards and securing movable items.
 Earthquake shaking can move almost anything, even large or heavy items. Imagine your home or
workplace being picked up and shaken sideways – what would be thrown around? How can you
prevent it?
 Start now by moving furniture such as bookcases away from beds, sofas, or other places where
people sit, sleep, or spend a lot of time. Move heavy objects to lower shelves.
 Then continue your “hazard hunt” to help identify and fix things such as unsecured televisions,
computers, bookcases, furniture, unstrapped water heaters, etc. A comprehensive list of typical
items at home or in commercial buildings, with recommendations for how to secure each, is on
the menu at right.
 Only one percent of injuries were caused by building damage. Other injuries were due to people
falling or behaving dangerously. In addition, many billions of dollars were lost due to this type of
damage. Much of this damage and injury could have been prevented in advance through simple
actions to secure these contents. This is why we recommend starting this step first.

Plan now to be safe during an earthquake

 Practice “Drop, Dover, and Hold On.”

 Identify safe spots in every room, such as under sturdy desks and tables.
 Learn how to protect yourself no matter where you are when an earthquake strikes.

Plan now to respond after an earthquake:

 Keep shoes and a working flashlight next to each bed.

 Get a fire extinguisher for your home. Your local fire department can train you and your family to
use it properly.
 Teach everyone in your household to use emergency whistles and/or to knock three times
repeatedly if trapped. Rescuers searching collapsed buildings will be listening for sounds.
 Identify the needs of household members and neighbors with special requirements or situations,
such as use of a wheelchair, walking aids, special diets, or medication.
 Take a Red Cross first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training course. Learn who
else in your neighborhood is trained in first aid and CPR.
 Know the location of utility shutoffs and keep needed tools nearby. Make sure you know how to
turn off the gas, water, and electricity to your home. Only turn off the gas if you smell or hear
leaking gas.
 Install smoke alarms and test them monthly. Change the battery once a year, or when the alarm
emits a “chirping” sound (low-battery signal).
 Work with your neighbors to identify who has skills and resources that will be useful in an
emergency, and who may need special attention (children, elderly, disabled, etc).
 Check with your city or county to see if there is a Community Emergency Response Team
(CERT) in your area. If not, ask how to start one.
Plan now to communicate and recover after an earthquake:

 Select a safe place outside of your home to meet your family or housemates after the shaking
stops.
 Designate an out-of-area contact person who can be called by everyone in the household to relay
information.
 Provide all family members with a list of important contact phone numbers.
 Determine where you might live if your home cannot be occupied after an earthquake or other
disaster.
 Know about the earthquake plan developed by your children’s school or day care. Keep your
children’s school emergency release card current.
 Keep copies of essential documents, such as identification, insurance policies, and financial
records, in a secure, waterproof container, and keep with your disaster supplies kits. Include a
household inventory (a list and photos or video of your belongings).

Organize disaster supplies in convenient locations.

 Everyone should have personal disaster supplies kits. Keep them where you spend most of your
time, so they can be reached even if your building is badly damaged. The kits will be useful for
many emergencies.
 You should also have disaster supplies kits stored in accessible locations at home, at work and in
your vehicle. Having these emergency supplies readily available can reduce the impact of an
earthquake, a terrorist incident or other emergency on you and your family. Your disaster
supplies kits should include food, water, flashlights, portable radios, batteries, a first aid kit, cash,
extra medications, a whistle, fire extinguisher, etc.
 Keep one kit in your home, another in your car, and a third kit at work. Backpacks or other small
bags are best for your disaster supplies kits so you can take them with you if you evacuate.

Recovery Phase- Earthquake

Reconnect and restore daily life by reconnecting with others, repairing damage, and
rebuilding community.
 In the days and weeks that follow a big earthquake, your family, friends and neighbors
can come together to start the process of recovery.
 Once you have dealt with urgent and immediate needs after an earthquake, continue to
follow the plan you prepared in advance.
 Aftershocks will continue to happen for several weeks after major earthquakes. Some
may be large enough to cause additional damage. Always be ready to drop, cover, and
hold on.
 Following a major disaster, communication will be an important step in your recovery
efforts.
 Turn on your portable radio for information and safety advisories.
 If your home is damaged, contact your insurance agent right away to begin your claims
process.
 Your recovery period can take several weeks to months or longer. Take the actions listed
below to be safe and to minimize the long-term effects of the earthquake on your life.

Be in communication

 Monitor local radio or television reports about where to get emergency housing, food,
first aid, clothing and financial assistance.
 Place all phones back on their cradles.
 Update your out-of-area contact, tell them your status, then stay off the phone.
Emergency responders need to use the phone lines for lifesaving communications.

Prioritize food and water

 If power is off, plan meals to use up refrigerated and frozen foods first. If you keep the
door closed, food in your freezer may be good for a couple of days. Save canned goods
for later.
 Listen to your radio for safety advisories.
 If your water is off or unsafe, you can drink from water heaters, melted ice cubes, or
canned vegetables. Avoid drinking water from swimming pools or spas.
 Do not eat or drink anything from open containers that are near shattered glass.

If you cannot stay in your home…

 If your home is structurally unsafe or threatened by a fire or other hazard, you need to
evacuate.
 If you do evacuate, tell a neighbor and your out-of-area contact where you are going. As
soon as possible, set up an alternative mailing address with the post office in person or
online
Response Phase- Earthquake
In the first days after  the earthquake
 Use the information you put together in your disaster plan and the supplies you organized
in your disaster kits.
 Until you are sure there are no gas leaks, do not re-enter your home.
 Also, do not use open flames (lighters, matches, candles, or grills) or operate any
electrical or mechanical device that can create a spark (light switches, generators, motor
vehicles, etc.).
 Never use the following indoors: camp stoves, gas lanterns or heaters, gas or charcoal
grills, or gas generators. These can release deadly carbon monoxide or be a fire hazard in
aftershocks.
 Following aftershocks, continue to check for gas leaks, chemical spills, damaged
electrical wiring and broken water pipes.

In the first weeks after the earthquake

 You will now work toward getting your life, your home and family, and your routines
back in order.
 Emotional care and recovery are just as important as healing physical injuries and
rebuilding a home.
 Make sure your home is safe to occupy and not in danger of collapse in aftershocks.
 If you were able to remain in your home or return to it after a few days, you will have a
variety of tasks to accomplish:

 If your gas was turned off, you will need to arrange for the gas company to turn it
back on.
 If the electricity went off and then came back on, check your appliances and
electronic equipment for damage.
 If water lines broke, look for water damage.
 Locate and/or replace critical documents that may have been misplaced, damaged,
or destroyed.
 Contact our council or other local agencies to find out about financial assistance
for your home, apartment, farm or business. to find out about financial assistance
 Talk with your family about how they are feeling. Children and older adults are of
special concern in the aftermath of disasters. Contact local faith-based
organizations, voluntary agencies, or professionals for counseling.
 Reach out to neighborhood or community organizations and get involved. Your
voice is important in deciding how your community will rebuild in the years to
come.