Evacuation Center Management 101
Managing evacuation centers is one of the essential subjects that we all need to learn but was never taught in college. We are clueless on such vital tasks given that our country is right in the vortex of the Pacific Basin's Ring of Fire. Looking at the chaos and disarray in Batangas would readily indicate that Filipinos never learn the basics of survival techniques under very harsh conditions and trying times.
And so, after going back and forth to the Taal evacuation centers, I did my research and interviews with experts and experienced these things. I am proposing 10 focus areas: First, choice and upgrade of evacuation centers; second, putting the basic needs in place; third, screening and organizing the refugees; fourth, feeding them correctly and adequately; fifth, minding their health, safety and welfare; securing the center; sixth, managing emotions and traumas; seventh, communication and information systems; eighth, managing relief goods and donations; ninth, making the evacuation experience productive, happy, and worthwhile; and tenth, documentation and reports.
Choosing the center is a difficult challenge given the reality on the ground that local government units have failed to comply with the law that requires them to construct a viable center to cater to emergency needs in case of armed conflicts, calamities, disasters, and crises. The classrooms in public schools can be used only for a maximum of 15 days. DepEd Secretary Liling Briones was right in trying to eject evacuees so that the children's education is not set aside, even under very challenging times. The DILG has failed in its mission to implement the law on this matter. Second is preparing the basic needs in the center prior to the arrival of the refugees, clothing, beddings, first-aid kits, clean and potable water, toilets and sleeping quarters, eating places and social halls. There must be an isolation room for those with infectious and communicable diseases.
Third, the evacuees should be screened to avoid terrorists and saboteurs infiltrating evacuation centers and causing harm and damage. The evacuees should be organized with a team leader and assistant leader for every three families, not to exceed 20 persons per team. The evacuation center must have an overall center director and with a medical officer, social worker, psychologist, security officer, safety officer, communication officer and chief cook and nutritionist, and perhaps an animator and entertainer. Fourth, there must be a strict protocol on feeding and nutrition. Fifth, there must be a small clinic or infirmary for the sick. Sixth, there should be psychosocial interventions and counselling.
Seventh, communication and information should be managed. There must at least be a transistor radio, a TV, and a public address system, and enough cellphones and other facilities. Eighth, relief goods and donations must be properly documented and fairly distributed according to needs. There must be proper accounting and feedback to donors. Ninth, the animator and entertainer should keep morale high. There must be productive activities like bag-making, toy-making, handicraft, learning how to make decors and other materials than can be sold. The evacuees should be tapped to help in the kitchen, to maintain cleanliness, and to entertain others too.
Tenth, there must be a center secretariat who shall encode in laptops all records and reports, take pictures and document all in a logbook what happened, who were involved, when, where, how, how much, and witnesses. Someday, we can learn from the experience of every evacuation center. I volunteer to teach all centers about these 10 focus areas.
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