Filipinos are not picky. Say, sure, they are influenced by their own personal preferences. However, when one comes, they take it in so cautiously whether it comes with an average to extreme intensity — what can they say? It cannot be helped. Vibrating grounds. Bursting water dams. Massive fissures squirt out broken pipes. Lives have been changed… For worse. There will come a time, perhaps in the near future, when size will matter. And that is in the presence of the Big One.
Which begs the question: are Filipinos ready for the Big One? To put it bluntly, no. Filipinos are built by resiliency not because of preparedness, but in the dire need for survival. They are essentially numbed to the point of stoicism in the face of natural calamities. We are so used to this.
This makes the whole disaster risk reduction discussion a worn-out priority that usually just sits at the back of the Filipino people’s heads as a country frequently visited by natural calamities. Even so, the Big One chooses no one and will certainly cause the deaths of many.
So, what are the simple ways we can be prepared to take in the Big One?
Prepare Go-Bags or Survival Kits
Needless to say, it is essential one prepares a go-to carrier with all the human essentials in the case of emergencies. Natural disasters do not give a warning!
Craft an Evacuation Plan with Your Families
Plan from A to Z and the following numbers and symbols after that. Browse through safe spaces around your area and see through emergency situations from every angle.
Know Emergency Contacts by Heart
If you can sing to the tune of Jollibee’s 8-7000 delivery, you sure can know by heart the contact of your local emergency response team.
Acknowledge the Presence of Big One!
The Big One may seem insignificant right now, but trust the experts… Your survival relies on your preparedness!
The Big One will come and shake your world — quite literally. And so when the time comes, in those simple steps, you will become more prepared than ever.
The Central Times 06 