Lesson 1

• Republic Act 10121


  A law that requires the country's government and its citizens to be prepared for disaster
• The Philippines is one of the most at risk countries in the world, 5th in disaster risk with 26.70% disaster risk as of 2016
• Why the Philippines is at risk

  • Geography
  • Climate
  • Human induced Calamities
• The Philippines is 5th most at risk of disasters as of 2016 according to the World Risk Index 2016
• Factors that make people more vulnerable to disasters include poverty, slum housing, limited access to medical services and clean water, corruption and weak law enforcement
• NDRRMC


  National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, serves as the President's adviser on disaster preparedness programs, disaster operations and rehabilitation efforts undertaken by the government and the private sector, acts as the top coordinator of all disaster management and the highest allocator of resources in the Philippines

  
• NDRRMC 4 part system

  • Disaster preparedness (DILG)
  • Disaster mitigation and prevention (DOST)
  • Disaster response (DSWD)
  • Disaster Rehabilitation and Recovery (NEDA)

  
• Role of LGU

  • There shall be a DRRM council for each region, LGUs from the provincial to the barangay level are mandated to form and operate DRRM councils, each office must come up with a local disaster risk reduction and management plan covering aspects of disaster preparedness, response, prevention and mitigation, and rehabilitation and recovery, chief DRRM officer

  
• R.A. 10121 teaches us to be prepared in every disaster that may come our way
• Hazard


  Any source of potential damage, harm, or adverse health effects on something or someone
• Disaster


  When a hazard hits a vulnerable populated area
• Hydrometeorological hazards that often affect the country

  • Cyclones (Tropical depression, Storm, Typhoon, Super typhoon)
  • Monsoons (Amihan, Habagat)
  • Tornadoes

  
• PAGASA


  Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical & Astronomical Services Administration, the National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHS) agency of the Philippines mandated to provide protection against natural calamities and to ensure the safety, well-being and economic security of all the people, and for the promotion of national progress by undertaking scientific and technological services in meteorology, hydrology, climatology, astronomy and other geophysical sciences
• Hydrometeorological hazards include typhoon, thunderstorm, flood, flash flood, storm surge, El Nino and La Nina

  
• Tropical cyclones


  • Characterized by strong winds and heavy rain, an average of 19 tropical cyclones enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility and approximately 9-10 make landfall in the Philippines each year, located on the western rim of the Pacific Ocean where most tropical cyclones pass, have a forecast lead time of 5 days

  
• Top 5 most destructive typhoons to hit the country

  • Typhoon Haiphong (1881)
  • Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) (2013)
  • Tropical storm Thelma (Uring) (1991)
  • Typhoon Bopha (Pablo) (2012)
  • Typhoon Angela (1867)

  
• Public Storm Warning System (PSWS)

  • Signal No. 1 (30-60 kph winds in next 24 hrs)
  • Signal No. 2 (61-120 kph winds in next 24 hrs)
  • Signal No. 3 (121-170 kph winds in next 18 hrs)
  • Signal No. 4 (171-220 kph winds in next 12 hrs)
  • Signal No. 5 (more than 220 kph winds in next 12 hrs)

  
• Automatic Suspension Guidelines


  • Signal #1 - No classes in Kindergarten
  • Signal #2 - No classes in Kindergarten, Elementary, and High School
  • Signal #3 - No classes in Kindergarten, Elementary, High School, and College (including Graduate School)
• Thunderstorm


  Local storms produced by cumulonimbus clouds, always accompanied by lightning and thunder, usually with strong wind gusts, heavy rain and sometimes with hail and/or tornado, typical in warm environments like the tropics and may persist for 1 to 2 hours

  
• Storm surge


  A rapid rise of seawater above normal sea level on the coast, generated by strong winds brought about by typhoons and thunderstorms

  
• Flood


  Occurs when land areas which are normally not covered with water are being submerged, often after heavy and continuous rainfall, may last for days and even weeks
• Flash flood


  A flood characterized by a raging current that occurs when the water level rises due to heavy rainfall, lasts from a few minutes to a few hours only, common along rivers, mountain canyons, coastline, creeks, and even urban areas

  
• Hydrometeorological hazard map


  A guide that highlights areas that are vulnerable to potential hazards like storm surge, typhoon, and flood, created to identify the areas that are prone to or affected these hydro meteorological hazards, can help prevent serious damage and deaths