The Philippines is a disaster-prone country. Every year, 19 typhoons cross the country. It is located also in the ring of fire, meaning it is susceptible to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
The recent tragedy that took the lives of hundreds of people and destruction of homes and crops caused by typhoon Pablo (international codename: Bhopa) in Mindanao, particularly New Bataan in Compostela Valley and Boston and Cateel in Davao Oriental is a living proof.
But the Philippines is not alone in this dilemma. “Every year, between 600 and 800 natural disasters occur, some small and localized, others affecting several countries and many thousands of people,” writes Bob Hansford, disaster risk management advisor at Tearfund, a Christian relief and development agency based in United Kingdom.
Some experts think climate change has increased the frequency and intensity of some weather-related hazards. There are those who believe that increased sea temperature caused by global warming could increase the number of tropical cyclones and storms.
“We need to be prepared for the worst impacts of climate change,” Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration Administrator Nathaniel Servando said.
“Weather patterns could become unpredictable, as would extreme weather events; hurricanes could become much stronger and more frequent,” wrote Lulu Bucay in a pamphlet issued by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
In the Philippines, floods have become a common occurrence. It is not only Metro Manila that suffers from flooding but other provinces as well. What can be done to save lives? “In the event of a disaster, warning communities can make the difference between life and death,” the Tearfund said.
In Disasters and the Local Church, authors Bill Crooks and Jackie Mouradian shares some examples of early warning systems: depth market posts, rope and belts, lookouts, and raising the alarm.
In some countries, communities place a series of bamboo poles in a river, with depth marks (as on a ruler) along the pole. Three colors are often used: green at the bottom, meaning “safe”; yellow in the middle, for alert level; and red nearer the top, which means “danger.”
“The color gives an indication of how quickly the water is rising,” Crooks and Mouradian points out.
“During heavy rain, some community members should be given the task of monitoring the water level and warming the community if the water reaches the danger level.”
Rope and bells is common in the Philippines but not often used. In this method, ropes are tied over the rivers, with flags and small bells attached. If the river level rises, the bells ring, alerting people to the imminent danger.
In some parts of Afghanistan, during the flash flood season a community will send young men to herd goats in the high hills and watch for surges of water in the stream bed.
“If the lookout sees the water rising quickly, he will alert the community through firing an air rifle, blowing a horn, or another signal that can be heard over long distances,” the two authors write.
What should the people do once the water level has reached the critical stage? “Once the water has risen above the danger level, all members of the community must be alerted, and those in danger must be asked to move to higher ground,” said Crooks and Mouradian.
Many communities have developed ways of passing on warnings including using church bells, mosque loudspeakers, mobile phones, gongs and megaphones (carried by volunteers on bicycles).
In flash floods, the water rises very quickly. “Where mobile phones are working, messages can be passed by mobile from upstream to downstream locations, alerting people to approaching floods,” Crooks and Mouradian suggest.
