Many Filipinos associate disaster with damage and flooding brought by typhoons. In any given year, we see how storms can wield unimaginable damage to communities, agriculture and infrastructure. We either see this in the news, read about it on social media, or experience it ourselves.
In recent days, however, the series of mid-strength earthquakes felt in various points of the country reminded Filipinos that the ground we stand on is neither stable nor safe.
We are supposedly due for The Big One, a worst-case scenario of a temblor of magnitude 7 or stronger that threatens to claim at least 30,000 lives, damage numerous buildings and disrupt basic services—power, water and communications —that many of us take for granted.
Maps being circulated show us the vulnerable areas where the fault lies and which parts of the country may suffer the heaviest damage.
It’s not a question of if, we are told. It’s a matter of when.
In response, the Metro Manila Development Authority may just conduct the next annual shake drill soon instead of waiting for the original schedule in July, given people’s renewed fears after the swarm of quakes in recent days.
It will be good for households to impress upon each member, young or old, standard precautions in the event a quake strikes and anticipate what they would do and where they would go should it strike at any given hour. And then, as the MMDA general manager said, even if people survive the immediate effects of a strong quake, they will have to deal with its consequences and the changes that it may bring to their routine.
In this situation, information will be key. Those who know where to go and whom to approach will save themselves the trouble of scrambling like idiots. Those who have run scenarios in their head will always have the advantage over those who will be surprised, even shocked.
It’s not painting a dire scenario but acknowledging a likely and potentially life-altering event. It’s not sowing fear but engaging people enough to get them to prepare for their own sake.
We can never prepare enough for any disaster, but thinking ahead is always better than not preparing at all.