EDITORIAL - Preparedness should not be a one-shot compliance

Instead of moving on a path leading to Metro Cebu, tropical depression Samuel hammered upward with a strength reduced to 45 kilometers per hour from 55 kph of maximum sustained winds.

Samuel largely spared Cebu province as it made landfall only in the northern areas with no one reported dead or injured. At least 500 families that were evacuated since Tuesday had already returned safely to their homes.

Had it headed straight to Metro Cebu, there would have been flooding and landslides, owing to the tremendous amount of rains it brought despite not being as strong as the previous weather disturbances that battered Northern Luzon in the past months.

Cebuanos were glad the tropical depression did not bring any significant damage to the province. As per report from disaster office, no major damage was also recorded in other areas in the Visayas, although many of the towns in the eastern part were heavily flooded.

Still, authorities lauded the preparatory measures of the people, especially those in Metro Cebu. “Ang atong pagpangandam ug ang atong mga kaigsuonan pod, nangandam pod sila. Wala gyud nag pabaya. Wala nato gi downplay ang nahitabo. Alert napod tang tanan. Hinaot unta nga padayon ni nga batasan nga kon dunay mga katalagman nga umaabot, kita tanan andam,” said Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office head Nagiel Bañacia.

However, it’s hard to base people’s preparedness on just one weather disturbance. In a country frequented by storms of different strengths, a one-shot compliance would not really work in the effort to minimize the impact.

While we hail community awareness as Samuel swept through the central part of the country, there is still a need for the community to be prepared against any calamity at all times. Afterall, we live in a disaster-prone country where it pays to be always alert.