How families can stay prepared in case of calamities

The natural calamities that the Philippines has been experiencing even outside the typhoon season in recent years is a clear indication of the pressing issue of climate change and the need to be prepared for emergencies anytime. Recently, Typhoon Odette (international name Rai) hit the Philippines and devastated many areas in the Visayas and Mindanao regions.

In 2020, the country also encountered two of the 10 deadliest natural disasters in the world, Typhoon Rolly (international name Goni) and Typhoon Ulysses (international name Vamco), according to AXA Climate, a group affiliated with one of the country’s leading insurers AXA Philippines, whose goal is to reinvent the insurance business and engage in sustainable transactions. Together, these Super Typhoons have taken thousands of lives and damaged homes and infrastructure, affecting millions of families nationwide. 

As calamities may come our way at any time, it’s best to always be ready and constantly refresh our knowledge on what to do in case of typhoons. In an exclusive interview, AXA Climate director Huu-An Pham (head of Industry Adaptation consulting practice) shared his expertise on risk prevention in case of natural disasters:

It is important to have access to services that can protect us during disasters. Pham stated, “Early warning systems are important to help individuals take preventive measures. They can protect their cars, close their doors and windows, they could go to a safer place, or not go out of the house during extreme weather conditions.” In the Philippines, people can subscribe to the National Disaster Risk Reduction & Management Council (NDRRMC) notifications by turning on the emergency alert settings on their phones, as well as following the Philippine Red Cross on Facebook (@phredcross), Twitter, and Instagram (@philredcross) for updates and early warnings.

Families must have their own emergency response plan. The first step in creating an emergency response plan is gathering information on which disasters are likely to hit your area and verifying how you could be warned about said disasters, then preparing accordingly. It is also crucial to define a safe evacuation place corresponding to the potential peril, such as higher areas in case of floods or hard-walled shelters in case of strong wind. Make sure you agree ahead on a post-hazard meeting place for your family and have a family communication plan in place in order to have better in control mapping out your next steps. Knowing the warning signals in your area and staying alert for emergency broadcasts can make all the difference when rolling out your response plan.

Prepare essential items ahead and store them nearby. Access to essential goods may be hindered during a disaster, so building an emergency kit with the following items is crucial: at least three-month supply of all their essentials such as food and toiletries, first aid materials, and important documents sealed in a waterproof envelope. The emergency kit must be stored in the second floor of the home or in a higher space to lessen the chances of being submerged in water in case of flooding. Pham also recommends families to save all emergency numbers on their cellphones, and keep a fully charged power bank and emergency battery for their phone at all times. Families should rehearse their emergency plan at least once a year.

Digital resilience is critical, but can also be a vulnerability in case of a severe disaster. An additional recommendation is to have a small radio device with batteries and a manual charging system, as these frequencies will also be used by the authorities to communicate with citizens in severely hit areas.

Parents must educate their kids on climate change and disaster preparedness. For families with young kids, Pham advised parents to educate their kids on the possible effects of natural calamities, but he also stresses the importance of being realistic but calm and reassuring when explaining to kids so as not to scare them. He also advised, if possible, for parents to enroll their children in first-aid training. “In France, I have enrolled my kids in first-aid training in the Red Cross. For sure, this will help save lives,” he shared. In the event that families are separated when calamities strike, Pham also said that family members can update each other via safety checks on their social networks.

Protect yourself and your families from the unexpected. Natural calamities may put your life and your homes at risk. Aside from protecting our health, it is also crucial to protect our properties from the unexpected, to lessen the burden of bouncing back from a calamity. AXA Philippines further strengthens its commitment to protect what matters to its customers, especially during natural calamities. It offers a wide range of insurance products that can protect different kinds of properties such as houses, condos, and vehicles – all of which can be covered for acts of nature such as typhoons, earthquakes, floods, and many more.

AXA encourages micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to avail of microproperty insurance products that aim to assist them in case their business is affected by natural disasters. AXA underwrites microinsurance with various partners in order to protect even more sectors of society.

Natural calamities may be unpredictable, but with these practical tips from a disaster preparedness expert, Filipinos can protect themselves from the devastating effects of calamities.

To know more about AXA Philippines, visit www.axa.com.ph.