The following discussions will focused on best practices and usual responses during disaster incidents. Actions are categorized into 3: personal actions tag as "People", "Government/ NGOs/ Civil Society" actions, and "Company" actions.
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...what do I do???
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Weather Disturbance: Typhoon, Monsoon Rains...
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Typhoon and monsoon rains, although both are weather related disturbances, they are actually 2 different forms of incident, but in some cases are similar. They are different in terms of behavior as to how they cause destruction, typhoon is typically and generally more on winds while monsoon rains is more on rains. But, there are also cases in wherein a typhoon also causes torrential rains, either because it is really a typhoon packed with rains or this because of a weak typhoon that is pulling the rain strength of the monsoon rains causing heavy to torrential rains in the path where the monsoon would be passing by. Also, typhoon can be expected, but monsoon would usually come by surprise, and if ever forecasted, impact is only predictable within less than 12 hour period. Also, monsoon rains is less dangerous, as the dangers of flooding and landslides are the only things to worry about; while typhoon are all of the monsoon impact, plus strong winds that would cause for dangerous debris to fly and hit people and properties, storm surges and high strong sea waves, and in some cases tornadoes. But the surprise factor of the monsoon rains compensates for its lack of other impacts as compared with the typhoons; so required response actions for monsoon rains have to be hastened up to be able to properly address the requirement, and this will be observed in the preparedness and response activities in the succeeding discussions.
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TYPHOON
Stages |
People |
Government/ NGOs/ Civil Society |
Company |
Preparatory Activities |
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Storm announcement from government – 48-24 hours before impact |
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Storm impact is imminent – 24 – 12 hours before impact |
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12 to 2 hours after impact |
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After impact |
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MONSOON RAINS
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Stages |
People |
Government/ NGOs/ Civil Society |
Company |
Preparatory Activities |
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Extremely heavy to torrential rains announcement from government within the next 12 hours. Activities should be done within a an hour period, before flooding worsen. |
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Within the next 11 hours of extremely heavy to torrential rains. This might not take 11 hours depending on how long the rains would take. |
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After impact |
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This type of disaster incident requires vigilance from the whole population and transparency of the government. There are tendencies that a citizen, when infected, either is afraid of the persecution of the population, or be subjected to medical experimentation activities, specially if there are still no cure, by the government; that is why some people would prefer to keep their state than be subjected to such situations. Also, sometimes for the government, to avoid panic, they tend not to divulge to the citizenry when there are already cases of a highly communicable disease within their communities. Please take note that sometimes disease outbreak is a result of an unmanaged disaster (earthquake, typhoon… - starts at evacuation centers) precedent to this incident. |
Stages |
People |
Government/ NGOs/ Civil Society |
Company |
Preparatory Activities |
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Advisory that a highly communicable disease has entered area – A person or certain number of people that are infected entered the area |
You and your house companions should perform regular communications with family and dependents to ensure that you are getting the accurate information, able to test functionality of your communication facility and protocol, and able to check on others. Ensure not to be dependent with internet and cellular systems. But, also ensure that you have enough battery to last for 72 hours, Although power might not be cut, but for contingency purposes, ensure to conduct regular charging while there is still power, ensuring 72 hours of power contingency. |
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Disease has started to spread – there is/ are already person or certain number of people in the locality that was/ were infected |
If infected, make sure not to make contact with anyone in your area, automatically perform self quarantine/ isolation and do the following: (a) if still capable, go out, drive self to nearest medical facility that can cater to the emergency requirement. (b) if still capable, but do not have a vehicle to drive, which is a better option to ensure that a vehicle would be left in the family for necessary activities, just go out and catch the attention of roving authorities, but make sure that they are warned and well equipped, with the proper protection, and (c) if you are not anymore capable, activate emergency communication with authorities, but your companions in your place, who are not infected, should be the one to do it to ensure that the communication facility will not be infected. |
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After Impact |
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Fire and Geological Disasters (Earthquake, Tsunami, Volcanic Eruption...)
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People might be wondering why I have combined fire with geological incidents, the main reason is the response, all of these have the same response which is to evacuate. Also, fire can be caused by earthquake and volcanic eruptions, so to simplify the discussion since fire is connected to these events, I have combine these scenarios.
Although there are areas that are not prone to these types of disasters, this make these more dangerous, such as the tsunami in the Indian Ocean in 2004, the earthquake that caused the tsunami was off the shore of Sumatra, that for some of the coasts impacted by the tsunami did not even felt the earthquake, so the population in those areas were not prepared. On September 2014, Mt. Ontake in Japan suddenly erupted, killing a number of unsuspecting mountaineers. In April 2015, few weeks before the Nepal earthquake, experts have convene in Kathmandu to discuss earthquake studies, and they have predicted that a major fault line in Nepal, that is in between the Indian and Eurasian plates, is due for a major movement anytime within the period, but that instance was already too late for Nepal to be prepared. The good thing about today is that tsunami can already be detected and impact can be predicted, giving time for possible impact sites to be prepared. But it is also important to note that tsunamis do not only occur in oceans/ seas, but also in other large body of water such as lakes. NOTE: Not all aftershocks are weaker than the major quakes, sometimes there are pre-shocks (or before shocks) that actually follows the major quakes, so the seismic tendency is actually a weak tremor immediately followed by a major earthquake. With this phenomenon, it is best to evacuate after a tremor even if it is weak. Earthquake discussion included here is also applicable to tremors brought by explosions, building structure failure or other reasons that can cause shaking of grounds/ buildings. |
FIRE
Stage |
People |
Government/ NGOs/ Civil Society |
Company |
Preparatory Activities |
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During Fire |
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Once out of impact of fire |
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Once fire is suppressed |
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EARTHQUAKE
Stages |
People |
Government/ NGOs/ Civil Society |
Company |
Preparatory Activities |
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Earthquake strikes |
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DROP/ DUCK, COVER AND HOLD ON under a sturdy structure. |
DROP/ DUCK, COVER AND HOLD ON under a sturdy structure. |
Immediately after the earthquake |
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24 hours after earthquake |
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TSUNAMI
Stages |
People |
Government/ NGOs/ Civil Society |
Company |
Preparatory Activities |
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During Impact (less than 5 minutes before impact to 30 minutes after it hits nearest land) |
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NOTE: Bare in mind that most of the people are already on panic mode.
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After Impact or Once out of Danger |
NOTE: It is expected that you are in higher ground in this stage.
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There are different types of terrorist attack scenarios which mean different preparations and responses, but general actions are identified depending on three general possibilities, either the incident is INDOOR of a building, OUTDOOR of a building or while on TRANSIT.
Although these incidents have the same impact, the situation is obviously different, for indoor attacks, it should be consider that the immediate response is to evacuate going outside, for outdoor attacks, obviously it is the other way around, and while on a transportation, to stop the vehicle in a safe spot and safe way, then evacuate. Please consider the following incidents: bombing and bomb threats, shooting/ stabbing/ machete rage/ attack, hostage taking, and other terrorist scenarios. But will not cover detailed responses for the direct victim of hostage taking since situations varies, type of hostage takers also varies and responses are in accordance to standard procedures of local authorities; what I can only cover are victims that are in the same place with the terrorists while they try to evacuate from the scene. Technically, the main response, whatever the mode of terrorist attack will always be the same, EVACUATE. Yes, this is outdoor so some might ask “where to?” since people are already outside, the response is “away from danger”. Personally it is really hard to judge dangers when outside, specially that going out is actually already part of our daily lives, that although there can be a lot of observed suspicious things and people, we have grown to live with it that we have come to consider them as safe. Do take note that the preparations and responses for the three attacks are the same with fire, the things that are just to consider for outdoor attack as compared with indoor and on transit is that it lessens the danger of being trapped indoors considering there is the danger of fire and assailants could be easily detected in open area; but this scenario also exposes locations or movements of victims since they are in the open, and also during explosions and gun fires the victims might be too expose to dangers. On historical records, terrorist bombs, which are mostly improvised explosive devices (IED) are usually brought using regular bags or boxes, or for worst scenarios, strapped on the body of a suicide bomber. For cases of terrorists who really want to inflict as much injuries as possible, they would also setup multiple explosives or dangers including areas where people will try to reached, the evacuation paths or path that people have tendencies to take, ones the initial explosion or attack happens. So yes, there is no best action for this type of disaster, but being able to learn about possible scenarios increases our chance of survival. Consider this also a suitable contingency plan for armed robbery. |
Almost all requirement and responses for this type of incident is similar to fire since the main focus is to evacuate and go to a secure area.
Stages |
People |
Government/ NGOs/ Civil Society |
Company |
Preparatory Activities |
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During Terror Incident |
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Once out of danger of terrorist attack |
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Once terror is suppressed |
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Coup d’etat/ Armed Civil Disturbance
There are chances that we might think that this is just the same as with terrorist attack. Yes, probably because of the violent situation, but take not that terrorist are “ultra-violent” groups that whenever they attack, their main goal is to inflict as much harm as they could, even at the expense of their lives. There are cases that these are paid mercenaries, but most of the times these are radicalized group, either by religion or by political influence. Also for terrorist the victims are random, the reason why most of time they use bombs. For coup d’etat or civil disturbance, people involved in these events are either due to political differences or due to conflicting principles. Yes, our definitions of these type of people involved in these different scenarios might differ, for you they are all the same; but do take note that the impact is totally different. Terrorists will inflict pain to everyone they come across, use people as shield, and kidnap them for ransom, while for coup d’etat or civil disturbance, people involved target authorities, government or only those people who try to go against them. Also, a coup d’etat or civil disturbance is often times predictable since the actors usually would like to ensure zero to minimal collateral damage since it is political in nature and they would like to win the support of the citizenry. In short, chance of survival in coup d’etat or civil disturbance is very much higher than in terrorist attacks.
But, with this scenario, since it is political, there are chances that critical public services might not be available anymore, peace and order and public health services, so technically, we might be on our own.
Although the response is considerably the same, to evacuate the location/ area of danger, since these actors do not actually intend to harm civilians, evacuation or escape from violence will not be complicated, it is just that time is of essence since civilians might get caught in cross-fire. Also, although this scenario might not be extremely violent as compared with terrorist attack, but there are chances that things might get out of hand and become otherwise, so consider being prepared at some level as how we prepare for terrorist attacks.
Do also take note that in this case, unlike terrorists attack, you do not take sides. You might want to, but since this is political and not a crime against humanity, you have no part in the responsible for their actions.
But, with this scenario, since it is political, there are chances that critical public services might not be available anymore, peace and order and public health services, so technically, we might be on our own.
Although the response is considerably the same, to evacuate the location/ area of danger, since these actors do not actually intend to harm civilians, evacuation or escape from violence will not be complicated, it is just that time is of essence since civilians might get caught in cross-fire. Also, although this scenario might not be extremely violent as compared with terrorist attack, but there are chances that things might get out of hand and become otherwise, so consider being prepared at some level as how we prepare for terrorist attacks.
Do also take note that in this case, unlike terrorists attack, you do not take sides. You might want to, but since this is political and not a crime against humanity, you have no part in the responsible for their actions.
Stages |
People |
Government/ NGOs/ Civil Society |
Company |
Preparatory Activities – When there is an advisory of action from other political groups |
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Danger is imminent, actors are already within the area of location of the subjects and military and police mobility is already in effect in multiple sites |
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NOTE: The government being specified here are the non-partisan sectors – fire fighters and rescue, government hospitals, if there is an unarmed peace and order group and other unarmed civilian support groups.
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Once event has ended |
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