Ready for emergency? Survival kits should last 3 days

FAMILIES should have their own survival kits with supplies good for three days in case of emergencies.

The reminder was issued in yesterday’s opening of the National Disaster Consciousness Month.

The three-day window is considered the “golden hours” for those caught in a calamity like floods, said Neil Sanchez of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) in Central Visayas.

Weather forecasters said families should be prepared for more floods since climate change has drastically changed weather patterns in the past decade.

Pagasa Mactan chief Oscar Tabada said more than 20 typhoons and storms are expected to enter the country this year with the sixth storm “Falcon” expected to leave the country today.

Pagasa, the OCD and the DOH unveiled their disaster mitigation programs as part of the annual observance of disaster consciousness month.

Pagasa’s new radar system improves tracking of storms for faster evaluation of weather.

Local disaster councils are supposed to spearheading rescue and relief operations in communities.

A P300,000 standby fund and 1,000 relief packs for victims are available with the Department of Social Welfare and Development in Central Visayas.

Two new fire trucks worth P20 million will be acquired and stationed in the Mambaling Highway, which is a fire-prone area in Cebu City, said Anderson Comar, Cebu provincial fire chief.

Forums on disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation, basic life support and cardio-pulmonary resuscitation and earthquake drills will be held this month. Correspondent Patricia Andrea Pateña