Prevention Tips During Typhoon 2020

 

Preparedness for an upcoming natural calamity is a must. 

                                                            

                                                           From Pagasa Website


2 days ago, Quinta from a low pressure area developed into a Tropical depression and now maintining its strength becomes a typhoon with an international name Molave. 

latest weather bulletin from PAGASA's Twitter account

Due to the heavy rains and strong winds that Quinta is bringing across the country, many cities are under signal no. 3. Whereas Metro Manila is now signal no. 2.
Class and works are now suspended because of the Typhoon.  

                                                         From Pagasa's Twitter Account 

According to the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical, Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) an average of 20 cyclones will form within or enter the Philippine Area Of Responsibility  (PAR), while around half of these will make a landfall.


In this case, we all should have knowledge and understanding to be prepared for this rainy season.


● Prepare a GO BAG


-Non perishable foods such as canned goods
-Clean water
-important documents 

-face masks
-Cellphone
-Flashlight
-Basic medicine such as paracetamol and
Basic first aid medicine like povidone iodine, alcohol
-few clothes
-tools in case of emergency like rope and scissors
-bring a powerbank
-
Before a typhoon made its landfall, we should be preparing a go bag that is consist of the most important things we can bring whenever we need to evacuate.

● Monitor news updates

Always watch and listen to the news update regarding the Typhoon's track. If its necessary to leave the house, it will be helpful to bring radio transistor to gather updates and warnings from the state weather bureau. 

From Pagasa's Website

● Preparing your House

Check the status of the house. Check the roofs and make sure that there are no leaks. If the house is prone to flood, lift all appliances and things that may be wet due to flood. Check the outlets and make sure that before you leave the house, turn off the main switch. 

courtesy from CNN Philippines

● Keep proper coordination

Be well  coordinated with the local government units. It is important to have a communication with the disaster management team and rescue team in order to reach you as soon as possible in case of a need to evacuate. 

from untvweb.com

As the famous saying goes "An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure", although we do not have the ability to tell the exact date of the typhoon and to avoid these natural calamities to happen, we can lessen the damage by being prepared and alert at all times.

In these trying times, while the pandemic is not yet over and the typhoon may ravage some parts of the country it is always better to seek guidance and help through prayers. As the song goes, "I believe, above the storm the smallest prayer will still be heard". Let us not loose hope on the One above.

Keep safe. God bless!

DO'S AND DONT'S DURING RAINY SEASON

 

Has it been raining almost every week? Last October 18, a low-pressure area entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), which has seen then strengthened and developed into a severe tropical storm Pepito. Pepito, who’s internationally named Typhoon Saudel, made landfall over San Ildefonso peninsula in Casiguran Aurora at 9 p.m. PHT

Yesterday, another tropical depression named Quinta brings heavy rains and causes floods in the areas of Catanduanes, Sorsogon and the Northern parts of Masbate. Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) warned the public that Quinta will intensify and may developed into a tropical storm and could reach into a severe tropical storm. 

According to the state weather bureau, rainy season is from June to November; and the dry season from December to May.  

When it rains, it pours, literally it pours flood and can cause a major calamity and disaster across different areas.

photo by NullbreakVFX

photo by NullbreakVFX

So how do we prepare for this? Here’s a comprehensive list of dos and don’ts when we’re expecting heavy downpours.

DO’s

BETTER TO STAY IN YOUR HOME

We’ve been hearing these words for the last previous months but it is still one way to avoid contact on viruses and bacteria. The fight against the pandemic is not over yet and as the peak of rainy season approaches, avoid to get sick should be a top priority.

EAT HEALTHY FOODS

Soup and hot meals are best served during cold and rainy days. Choose veggies and high- nutrients foods to help strengthen your body.  Some must-try dishes during the rainy days are turmeric tomato soup, ginger chicken soup, and local dishes like Sinigang and Tinola which are popular staples here in the Philippines.

TAKE VITAMIN C

Vitamin C is known as an immunity booster. When the body has a strong immune system, it will work well to protect the body from viruses. You can increase your Vitamin C intake by eating fruits high in this vitamin like oranges, kiwi, and guavas.

Wear Dry and comfortable clothes

Wet and cold things can be a breeding ground for bacteria and viruses so make sure to stay dry.

Maintain Personal Hygiene and Keep the House Clean

We know how important it is to wash our hands and we better keep that in mind. And as we take care of our personal hygiene, it’s also crucial to maintain the cleanliness of our homes.  

We can do this by sweeping our floors top avoid dust build up because they can cause allergy. Entering the rainy season also means we entered dengue season. We can avoid this by checking stagnant water and making sure they are covered to prevent mosquito breeding. We can also start using mosquito repellant lotions as an extra measure especially for our kids.

DON’T’s

Don’t Go Outside Unprepared 

If you can’t avoid going out of the house to run errands just make sure that you are in complete gear.

Wear thick clothes with jacket and raincoat, must also remember to bring your umbrella all the time. Make sure that you are also wearing boots to avoid being soaked in the flood and risking yourself in getting infection, like leptospirosis. Always bring your alcohol with you!

AVOID ENTERING AIR-CONDITIONED AREAS, WHEN WET

If you went outside and got soaked in the rain, when you go home do not go directly in the air-conditioned rooms. Why? The very cold temperature plus you being wet might make you catch fever and viruses like cough and cold. Make sure that when you get home you change your clothes and dry yourself as soon as you can.

BE SURE TO EAT COOKED FOODS.

Foods that are slightly cooked might be a cause of bacteria and viruses. During these rainy season, it is better to wash all the vegetables and meat thoroughly and cook it very well to avoid contact with bacteria and germs.

AVOID OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

As we approach the rainy season it is advisable that we keep all of our activities inside the house to avoid going outside in the rain and risking ourselves of getting sick. There are various activities that are fun and exciting that we can do while we are indoors, like playing chess, doing music session with the guitar or even trying making a new hobby like baking.

ALWAYS STAY INFORMED

Yes, its raining and you feel like just enjoying a cup of coffee and eating your snacks while watching Netflix, but make sure that you are always updated. It is important that we regularly watch the news or check our phones for online updates regarding the development of the typhoon to know the next step that we should do.

And, above all these, it is very important to always PRAY. Let us not underestimate the power of prayer. We are asking God to do something we know we can’t do. We lift our supplications to HIM because He is greater than our worries in life.

Check this link for more information about Community Prayer.

MCGI COMMUNITY PRAYER

I Hope that all these tips will be helpful. Keep safe everyone!