“FAMILY preparedness is disaster preparedness.”

This was stressed by Mayor Belen T. Fernandez when she recently convened members of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) to discuss the city government’s Disaster Plan for 2014 before submitting it to the Sangguniang Panlungsod for approval and budget allocation.

Fernandez said a priority component of the plan is family preparedness that requires households to have own plans in cases of calamities.

The mayor recalled that city hall never submitted a disaster preparedness plan to the city council and said her administration will do it for the first time.

All the city’s 31 barangays will undergo training and orientation on disaster awareness and preparedness to include basic life support and first aid skills, to achieve the city government’s aim for zero-casualty during calamities.

All public school students will also be given free survival swimming lessons that will be included in their physical education classes.

CDRRMC head Ronald De Guzman noted that a recent study warned about a worst-case scenario of an Intensity 8.2 earthquake in the Manila Trench that could trigger a 21- foot tsunami in Dagupan given its proximity to the trench.

The mayor said while the probability of a dam break and tsunami are very slim, she already ordered that precautionary measures be put in place such as all school buildings to be constructed should be at least two-storeys high and to persuade owners of all 3-storey residences and establishments to convince them to allow the use of their properties as evacuation area if the need arises. (CIO)

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