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Disaster Awareness

A disaster is a sudden, catastrophic event that causes significant disruption to normal life, resulting in loss of life, damage to property, and adverse effects on the environment. Disasters can occur due to natural or human-made causes and often overwhelm the capacity of affected communities to respond and recover without external assistance.

According to City of Mandaluyong, Brgy. Addition Hills is prone to these natural and man made disasters: earthquake, flood, typhoon, and fire. Let’s define what are these disasters and how to prepare for all of them.

Earthquake

Earthquake

An earthquake is the sudden shaking or trembling of the Earth's surface caused by the movement of tectonic plates, volcanic activity, or human-induced factors like mining or reservoir-induced seismicity.

Causes of Earthquakes

  • Tectonic Plate Movements: The most common cause of earthquakes is the movement of tectonic plates. The Earth's lithosphere is divided into several large plates that float on the semi-fluid asthenosphere. When these plates interact (collide, move apart, or slide past each other), stress builds up and is eventually released as an earthquake.
    • Convergent Boundaries: Plates collide, causing one to be pushed under the other (subduction), often leading to powerful quakes and volcanic activity.
    • Divergent Boundaries: Plates move apart, creating new crust and causing rift zones where earthquakes can occur.
    • Transform Boundaries: Plates slide past each other horizontally, causing earthquakes along faults (e.g., the San Andreas Fault).
  • Volcanic Activity: Earthquakes can also be triggered by volcanic activity, as magma moving within the Earth's crust exerts pressure and causes tremors.
  • Human-Induced Causes: Activities such as mining, reservoir-induced seismicity (due to the filling of large reservoirs), and hydraulic fracturing (fracking) can also induce earthquakes.

How to survive an earthquake

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Earthquake guide

Flood

Flood

A flood is a natural disaster characterized by an overflow of water that submerges land that is usually dry. It occurs when water from heavy rainfall, melting snow, rivers, dams, or oceans exceeds the capacity of natural or man-made drainage systems and inundates surrounding areas.

Types of Floods

  1. River Flooding: When rivers overflow their banks due to heavy rain or snowmelt.
  2. Flash Flooding: Sudden and intense flooding caused by heavy rainfall in a short period.
  3. Coastal Flooding: Resulting from storm surges, high tides, or tsunamis along coastlines.
  4. Urban Flooding: Occurs in cities with inadequate drainage systems, exacerbated by paved surfaces.
  5. Pluvial Flooding: Caused by heavy rain overwhelming drainage systems without involving a water body.

Causes of Floods

  • Prolonged or intense rainfall
  • Melting snow or ice
  • Overflowing rivers or dams
  • Hurricanes or storm surges
  • Poor urban planning and deforestation

How to survive a flood

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FLOOD guide

Typhoon

Typhoon

A typhoon is a powerful tropical cyclone that forms over warm ocean waters in the Northwest Pacific Ocean. It is characterized by strong winds, heavy rainfall, and potential storm surges. Typhoons are similar to hurricanes and cyclones, differing only in their geographic location.

Causes of Typhoons

  1. Warm Ocean Waters Warm water provides the heat and moisture that fuels the system, allowing it to intensify.
  2. Atmospheric Instability Surrounding air rushes in to fill this low-pressure area, resulting in cyclonic circulation.
  3. High Humidity in the Mid-Troposphere Adequate moisture in the middle layers of the atmosphere supports cloud formation and storm development.
  4. Coriolis Effect: Due to the Earth's rotation, the Coriolis force causes the storm system to spin.
  5. Pre-existing Weather Disturbance: A tropical depression or convergence of winds can act as a "seed" for typhoon formation.

How to survive a typhoon

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TYPHOON guide

Fire

Fire

A fire is a rapid oxidation process that releases heat, light, and various reaction products. While fire can be beneficial for cooking, heating, and industrial processes, uncontrolled fires—such as wildfires or structural fires—can cause significant destruction and pose a serious threat to life and property.

Causes of Fire

  1. Human Causes:
    • Negligence: Unattended cooking, improper disposal of cigarettes, or careless use of candles.
    • Electrical Faults: Faulty wiring, overloaded circuits, or malfunctioning appliances.
    • Improper Use of Fireworks: Mishandling or misuse of flammable materials.
  2. Natural Causes:
    • Lightning: Can ignite dry vegetation, leading to wildfires.
    • Volcanic Eruptions: Lava and pyroclastic flows can ignite fires. Spontaneous Combustion: Organic materials like hay or compost piles can self-ignite under the right conditions.
  3. Environmental and Industrial Causes:
    • Flammable Materials: Improper storage of chemicals or fuels. Industrial Accidents: Explosions or leaks in factories or oil refineries.

How to survive a fire

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FIRE guide
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