IT ARISE DUE TO FAULT, BE SURE YOU'RE PREPARED FOR THE RESULT
There's gonna be an earthquake in this town!
There will be houses falling down!
The fire hydrants will blow up!
The streets will crack, the pipe will pop!
EARTHQUAKE! EARTHQUAKE OR HOW I USED THE BRIDGE PART OF THE SONG "THE EARTHQUAKE SONG" BY LITTLE GIRLS
An earthquake is a dangerous occurrence that destroys the place where it occurs. A quick and violent shift or fracture within the earth's crust is followed by a succession of shocks that is brief yet devastating.
Tectonic plates are part of the earth's surface that is broken. The continents are part of these plates, which are constantly moving apart or towards one another. When stresses that produce tectonic plate movement are released, an earthquake occurs.
It is critical to understand why it occurs, what the causes are, what the symptoms are that signal it may occur? And what the consequences will be?. What can we do?
The new digital era affects people's behavior. When my neighborhood had an earthquake, I noticed that people shared their experiences or feelings on social media. Some of the posts seem they were happy about it the first time they encountered it. After all, I understand that Filipino uses humor as a coping mechanism. We address conflict without causing tension through humor. It's also encouraging to learn that when people post about their experiences, they express empathy for one another, demonstrating their concern and solidarity.
THE EFFECTS OF EARTHQUAKES IN MY LOCAL COMMUNITY
• Ground Shaking •
The most visible effect of earthquakes is ground shaking. It is caused by seismic waves passing through the ground and can be fairly mild in small earthquakes or extremely intense in massive earthquakes. Cracks, minor to substantial damage, and collapse can occur in man-made structures. Standing, walking, and moving about is difficult for people and animals. Things, furniture, and automobiles all move around. Damages are determined by the magnitude of ground shaking and the distance between the epicenter and the epicenter, as well as the geological features of the area. Additionally, near-surface waves, The earthquake's epicenter is responsible for the most damage both during and after the event. The death toll from the earthquake is not directly related to the shaking.
Nowadays, We are now surrounded by buildings and other infrastructure that was constructed on the ground. Depending on the materials used to construct them, they may collapse during an earthquake (This is why duck, cover, and hold calmly can help people live during a disaster; I know you'll be afraid, but we can't avoid it; at the very least, we'll be safe.) As a result, people are being killed; it's our fault, not the
earthquake's. During an earthquake, on the other hand, suppose individuals were placed on a field with no terrain features. However, your chances of dying would be zero or close to nothing. People will find it difficult to move and stand up (would you be terrified in that circumstances? I would, but not as much because I don't have to worry about buildings collapsing or furniture and stuff falling on me. Only crush is allowed, kidding aside.)
The portion of the west valley fault that runs through Cavite Province is the largest in terms of land area. In terms of ground shaking, the General Trias City is classified as High Susceptible. 65.95 percent of the land area (94,152.74 hectares out of a total of 142,760 hectares) is classified as highly vulnerable.
• Power Outage •
Electrical facilities and power lines may be damaged as a result of the earthquake. In addition, the authorities were obliged to turn off power across a large area in order to prevent more damage.
According to Dr. Renato Solidum of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, authorities were compelled to turn off power across a large area in order to avert more damage.
"After an earthquake, engineers normally turn off the power to prevent a power surge that could cause more harm to the affected areas," Solidum explained.
Landslides, liquefaction, and lateral spread might cause infrastructure damage and transmission tower failure and fires. The Equipment at electrical substations can fail, and control buildings can be damaged.
When the power goes out in our town, the water supply goes off as well. As a result, we gathered our containers to fill with water in case the water ran out as well. It's fine if you don't have access to electricity, but not to water. I also noticed that a power outage helps a family bond since when there is power, everyone is busy with their own companies and on their phones.
• Cancellation of Classes and Operations •
In areas affected by disasters or calamities, other than typhoons, such as but not limited to floods, earthquakes, tsunamis, and conflagration, decisions on and subsequent announcements of cancellation/suspension of classes in public and private schools and work in government offices shall be made by the local government executive as chairperson of the LDRRMC, in coordination with the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC), through all forms of mass media.
In circumstances where immediate action is required to avert loss of life or bodily harm, lessons may be canceled or suspended. After all, the most important thing is our safety. We have no way of knowing when an earthquake will strike. A major earthquake has never been predicted by the PHIVOLCS or any other scientists. We don't know how, and we don't expect to find out any time soon. As a result, education-based preparation is less expensive than learning via tragedy. We can only survive a natural disaster if we are prepared.
Once the local administration declared a class suspension in our community. We stepped calmly outside the building till we arrived at our destination. I personally check on my sister, as well as my mother and father, at home. I'd turn on the television to see if there were any additional announcements or updates. I tried to keep calm throughout the situation by following the drop, cover, and hold principles.
• Preparation Efforts for the Upcoming Earthquakes •
We can't predict earthquakes, so it's best to be prepared. People in Cavite are frightened and fearful that the "Big One" will strike at any time due to sudden earthquakes. The "Big One" would be the worst scenario of a 7.2-magnitude earthquake originating from the West Valley Fault, a 100-kilometer fault that spans through six cities in Metro Manila and neighboring provinces. The idea is simple enough for anyone to understand and put into action. People would be aware of the significance of advance planning for their emergency response and would have a strategy in place. Furthermore, planning, reviewing, training, and testing are essential components of an effective emergency response strategy that can quickly restore normality to a damaged community.
Schools in our community are one of the most effective means of educating and training children for the Drop, Cover, and Hold drill and demonstrating to do. Attract their attention by issuing clear, concise commands. Speak in a soothing tone. Children should promptly Drop, Cover, and Hold when the command "earthquake" is given. Schools have adopted programs that simulate an earthquake event and teach students how to drop, cover, and hold. Also, recommended drill procedures inside and outside the school building or other buildings. Typically, they taught us to Plan and practice what to do if an earthquake strikes, Drop, Cover, and hold on during your earthquake drill, floor plan of your home, walk through each room, and discuss evacuation details, Create an emergency supply kit, Assemble an emergency supply kit for your home, Prepare your home for earthquakes by securing hazards in your home, Inspect and secure your home's structure, Know where and how to shut off utilities, including gas, electricity, and water, Know where and how to shut.
In the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology's scenario, a tsunami is also expected (PHIVOLCS). It will impact the wider Metro Manila area as well as nearby provinces such as Cavite, particularly the municipalities of Carmona, General Mariano Alvarez, and Silang. Tsunamis can occur when the sea floor abruptly deforms and vertically displaces the overlying water. Tectonic earthquakes are a type of earthquake related to the deformation of the earth's crust; when they happen beneath the sea, the water above the deformed area is pushed from its equilibrium position. As the displaced water mass, which acts under the pull of gravity, tries to recover equilibrium, waves emerge. A tsunami can occur when vast portions of the seafloor rise or fall.
(We are on vacation at Ternate on the 30th of June. The earthquake occurred in Batangas, and the active Taal volcano was one of the underlying causes or effects. So, when we went swimming at the beach, the water was quite warm, the waves were extremely high, and it was high tide)