Mr. Digno, an emergency and disaster expert, gave a lecture to residents about common emergencies in the Philippines like blackouts, earthquakes, fires, typhoons and floods. He advised residents to "Think, Prepare, and Act" - to think of a plan, prepare necessary supplies, and act quickly during emergencies. He recommended families prepare a disaster plan including an evacuation meeting point and disaster supply kit with at least 3 days of water, non-perishable food, clothing and a flashlight. The barangay chairman assured residents his office is prepared to help during emergencies.

1. What to Do During
Emergencies and
Disaster
Mr. Alphie Zarriz

2. Mr. Digno, an expert in emergency and disaster preparation, is giving a lecturer, is
giving a lecturer to the residents of barangay 430 in Zone 441, Sampaloc, Manila. He
start his lecturer by talking about the most common emergencies and natural disasters
in the Philippines. Here are some of them.
1. Blackout – it is a loss of power in a certain area. There is no electricity at home
and electric-powered transportations like the LRT and the MRT do not work.
2. Earthquake – it is the shaking, rolling , and sudden shock of earth’s surface.
3. Fire – this mostly happens in highly-populated areas. If not controlled early, a
fire may cause a lot of damage.
4. Typhoon – lightning during storms and typhoons may kill people.
5. Flood – happens during heavy rains or when canals or dams overflow.

3. Think, Prepare, and Act
When any of these happen in any place, we must “Think, Prepare, and Act,” Mr. Digno
reminds the community members. Think means to never lose focus or give in to panic.
We must be able to think of a plan on what to do in case emergencies happen and
disaster occur. Prepare means to do what we can to either prevent or be ready for
emergencies or disasters. Preparation includes getting hold of materials we may need
during these times. Lastly, Act means putting our plan into action. We must be quick on
our feet during emergencies and disasters to avoid getting hurt or damaging our
possessions.”

4. Preparing a Family Disaster Plan
To prepare a Family Disaster Plan, Mr. Digno says that the elders must talk
with the family about the following.
• What to put in Family Disaster Kit
• What to do if asked to evacuate in case of an emergency or disaster.
• Where to meet outside the house during evacuation.

5. Preparing the Disaster Supply Kit
Mr. Digno says, “In a disaster, you might be without electricity or water for a few
days. Keep important items in your disaster supply kit so that it will be easy to take
everything you need with you if you have to evacuate. Include the following in your
kit.
• Water (one gallon per person in your family for three days);
• Food that does not need to be cooked or refrigerated, like peanut butter, canned
soup, noodles, biscuit, and canned goods.
• Comfortable clothing, shoes, and sandals.
• Flashlight with reserved batteries
• First aid kit.
`After the lecture of Mr. Digno, the barangay chairman informs the people that his
office prepared for any emergency and calamity, so they not be afraid to go him for
help.