An evacuation center must be a reliable sanctuary

In a number of articles I wrote in the past few months, my topics had invariably revolved around disasters and ideas on being prepared for calamities. One such column took out a concept on how to cope with tragic scenes from a cable television program called "Doomsday Preppers". In fact, as that particular write-up took form, I entertained some reservations thinking it might appear outlandish and alarmist but the few feedbacks it eventually generated made me smile.

My daughter, Atty. Charisse, must have noticed that succession of articles enough to ask me why I dwelt on such horrible subjects. Perhaps, she recalled that for no apparent reason and for an unspecified calamity, I urged my family to brace for an unknown terrible disaster weeks before Ruping struck more than two decades ago. Then, when we were shaken by the October 15, earthquake, Charisse looked straight into my eyes as if searching for an explanation. I could not tell her anything because, honestly, I did not know a thing.

So, we had the January 2011 and August 2012 flash floods. If we could remember, the inundations did not come from stormy weather. We only suffered from unprecedented volume of rain water that poured from the heavens, without PAG-ASA warning. Together with the October 15 7.2 magnitude tremor and Yolanda, we have learned hard and terrible lessons that should push us to prepare.

There is a need to organize a corps of able-bodied manpower and functional equipment required to respond to a disaster. Headed by a thoroughly trained and knowledgeable chief, the whole company must be subjected to a continuing training for any eventuality with modules taking into account high intensity earthquakes and super typhoons. These emergency personnel must know, by heart, the geography of Cebu City such that they can reach any part of the city even if blind folded and other places in the country as well.

The graphic scenes of destruction shown on television of Tacloban City, in Leyte, and Daanbantayan, in our province, tell us that there is no one trying to clear these places of the debris. That can be explained by the fact that people are more concerned with looking for food to eat than to clean the surrounding forgetting that aid, rescue and recovery can be more facilitated by better accessibility. From this lesson, the emergency crew that the city needs to organize has got to be able to operate not only to provide immediate relief but also to move and transport quicker such provision.

The command center from which this force may be dispatched must be strong enough to withstand the kind of temblor that hit Bohol lately and the fury of a Yolanda. A building that does not meet this standard may only be destroyed before the team goes into action and we can surmise the consequent confusion. Our engineers can provide the technical aspect of such a building plan. A Florida, USA, concept is worth considering. There, their engineers are, firstly, looking at materials that are twice stronger yet one half lighter than concrete and steel and secondly, at aerodynamic designs to lessen the impact of howling winds.

Finally, the kind of futuristic structure that houses the city's emergency response corps can double as a refuge for disaster victims and I mean not just a handful of refugees. We have seen from the latest calamity that the covered basketball court in Bogo City did not serve well as an evacuation area. In fact, some sports complexes functioned as trapped places that doomed those who sought cover there. What I have in mind is a center that, in case of extreme emergencies, can safely keep thousands of refugees with enough provisions to last a reasonably long period.

Apart from its structural aspect, the center must be built with health and sanitation considerations taken. Today, the Leyte footages beamed by national television indicated an emerging health problem. Epidemics may be at hand. I wish that when the city builds this dream center, the health and sanitation of refugees shall be thoroughly addressed.

Well, I know I am dreaming quite superficially. Those in the know can fill the lacking substance. Can't I dream of an evacuation center that is a reliable sanctuary?

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