Quick lessons from the GenSan quake

Quick Lessons from the GenSan Quake

Experiencing earthquake during the time of social media gives us an advantage of seeing blow by blow accounts without using one word.

Here are some of the lessons learned so far based on our vicarious experience through social media.

- Wide open spaces are essential. It is where people instinctively run and where they can build tent cities.

- Building substandard structures is simply criminal--and doubly so in a known earthquake-prone area. (The sight of an Iglesia ni Cristo church standing unperturbed side by side a Jollibee building crashing to the ground drives home the message in a way no words can.)

- Large trees for shade are essential, especially if the weather is hot.

- In case of rain, there should be tents available, if there are no other safe and sturdy structures to run.

- In a big city, the water source could be cut off. There should be alternative sources of potable water.

- In a big city, the electricity could be cut off. Although not immediately life-threatening unless in hospital settings, this deprivation further intensifies the suffering of survivors.

- Food supply could be cut off, so restoring the public market or creating a new makeshift one is urgent.

- Those who are on maintenance medicine will need to procure their meds somewhere.

- In case of a tsunami advisory, coastal towns need a higher ground to run to, as pre-agreed upon.

- Despite regular earthquake drills, people will panic when the real thing strikes, especially a 7.8 temblor. But without earthquake drills, the panicked reactions would surely be much worse.

- Individuals who are hypertensive and/or prone to panicking are most vulnerable. Those who are merely having panic attacks may be rushed to a cool dark place to calm down.

- Those who faint or get dizzy are often the ones needing wheelchairs, stretchers, and ambulance services. But obviously the top priority at this point is rescuing and treating those who are actually injured.

- Retrieving the bodies of the dead is another major matter altogether.

- Even in the face of widespread devastation, looting might happen in places where there is considerable cash, food, or other resources.

- Crashing buildings produce dust and aerosol that people should stay away from.

- Fire might also break out in devastated structures.

- It is in tent cities and other mass evacuation places that local governments and NGOs can extend help the most and offer aid immediately. But what if the rescuers are themselves victims or casualties?