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"Disaster Preparedness should be everybody's business.

The imagined earthquake impact


scenarios can be a nightmare if we don't prepare and take things seriously," Solidum said.

He said the public should do the following in case of an earthquake:

 Stay indoors if one is already in a house or structurally-sound building


 Duck, cover, and hold on to something sturdy
 After the shaking stops, those indoors should evacuate to a safe open
space

Solidum also encouraged the public to join earthquake drills and to conduct their own
earthquake drills at home, in school or in the office.

Six earthquakes were as strong as the July 16, 1990 tremor, with a magnitude of 7.8: east of
Surigao del Norte in 1952 and 1951; Mindoro Oriental in 1942; Surigao del Sur in 1911; Davao
Oriental in 1903; Quezon in 1901.

Strongest earthquakes

EARTHQUAKE-PRONE. Seismicity map from Phivolcs shows that Palawan has not been visited by
destructive earthquakes. Photo from Phivolcs

Since the 1600s, there have been 106 earthquakes in the Philippines with a magnitude
of more than 6.0. Of the many islands in the country, only Palawan island has not been
visited by destructive earthquakes, according to a seismic map produced by the
Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS).

The strongest recorded earthquakes that hit the Philippine Archipelago occurred on
Sept 20 and 21, 1897, in the Celebes sea area, between the islands of Sulu and
Basilan.While no succeeding earthquakes so far matched the intensity of the July 1990
quake, it was not the strongest in Philippine history. In fact, the 7.8-magnitude record
that year comes only as 7th among the strongest that have hit the country.

The Sept 20, 1897, earthquake registered a magnitude of 8.6 on the Richter scale,
while the second quake, which occurred on the very same location the next day,
registered a magnitude of 8.7.

Next in terms of magnitude were 3 earthquakes with a magnitude of 8.3 (Aklan in 1948;
near Davao Oriental in 1924; Celebes Sea in 1918). There were 3 with a magnitude of
8.1 (west of Sultan Kudarat in 1976; east of Davao Oriental in 1943; east of Samar in
1897).

Two earthquakes with a magnitude of 8 occurred in Las Piñas in 1645 and in Cagayan
in 1627. Four occurred with a magnitude of 7.9: west of Ilocos Sur in 1934; Masbate in
1897; west of Ilocos Norte in 1897; east of Samar in 1897.
MANILA, Philippines – Don't know if your house will collapse during an earthquake? A
new tool allows you to check for yourself.

Launched by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) and the
Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), "How Safe is My House? Self-check for
Earthquake Safety" is a 12-point questionnaire homeowners can use to assess the
earthquake readiness of their house.

The checklist was tailored for concrete hollow block (CHB) houses, one of the most
common types of Philippine homes because of its low construction cost. See the
complete document here.

The features recommended by the checklist are based on the National Buiding Code
and Structural Code of the Philippines. They were tested by a full-scale shaking table
experiment conducted by Filipino and Japanese experts.

Phivolcs plans to launch a version for a wooden house as well as a computer simulation
program to enable enginners and architects to test the earthquake readiness of their
designs using special software.
The higher the total score, the more earthquake-resistant the house:

 11-12 : Though this seems safe for now, please consult experts for
information.
 8 - 10 : This requires strengthening, please consult experts.
 0 - 7 : This is disturbing! Please consult experts soon.

The features

An "earthquake-resistant" house is a house that will not collapse even in the face of an
intensity 9 earthquake, said Phivolcs Director Renato Solidum.

So what makes a house earthquake-resistant?

A house designed by a civil engineer or architect instead of a mason or carpenter has a


higher chance of not collapsing because the expert is expected to follow the Building
Code and Structural Code.

A house built in 1992 or after is also more earthquake-ready because it was the year
after more earthquake resistance standards were introduced to the codes.
A regular-shaped house – symmetrical, rectangular, box-type – is also more stable than
an irregularly-shaped house.

The shape influences the behavior of the building during ground shaking. If it's irregular,
the house will be twisted and various parts will move in various ways, so it's not good,"
explained Solidum.

Features Properly-built Improperly-built

Concrete hollow
6 inches thick (400 x 200 150mm) 4 inches thick (400 x 200 x 100mm)
block wall
10mm diameter spaced 40cm from 6mm diameter spaced 90cm from
Vertical steel bars
each other each other
Horizontal steel 10mm diameter spaced 60cm from 6mm diameter spaced 60cm from
bars each other or laid every 3 layers each other or laid every 3 layers
Mortar mix
1:4 Compacted 1:4 Not compacted
(Cement : sand)
Roof
Wood/Galvanized iron sheets Wood/Galvanized iron sheets
frame/roofing

The building materials used also determine the strength of the house. Walls made of 6-
inch (150 mm) thick concrete hollow blocks are much stronger than the cheaper but
more commonly used 4-inch blocks.

The reinforcement of vertical and steel bars embedded in the walls are just as
important. Vertical bars have to have a diameter of 10 mm and must be only 40
centimeters away from each other. Many substandard homes have thinner bars (6 mm)
spaced farther away from each other (90 cm).

For horizontal bars, they must be 10 mm thick and spaced 60 cm from each other (or
between 3 layers of concrete hollow blocks).

Walls that are more than 3 meters wide must be supported to prevent it from falling
down during a quake.
COMMON HOUSE. Concrete hollow block (CHB) houses are common in the Philippines because they
are cheap and easy to construct. Photo from PHIVOLCS

Many Filipino homes also have a gable wall, or the triangular area between the A-frame
of the roof and the wall around the house. To keep the gable wall from falling (as it did
in the video), materials for it must be light. If it's made of concrete hollow blocks, they
must be well-anchored to the rest of the house. Houses with no gable wall are far safer.
Examples of these are houses with flat roofs.

A foundation of reinforced concrete would resist the shaking of an earthquake making it


the ideal foundation for a house. This much more stable than a foundation of stones or
unreinforced concrete.

The kind of soil on which the house is built is another factor. Rock or stiff soil is more
stable while muddy or reclaimed soil literally puts your house on shaky ground.

The last important gauge is the overall condition of the house. A well-maintained house
with damages from previous earthquakes or other calamities repaired stands a much
better chance of surviving a quake than a deteriorated one. – Rappler.com

Being situated in the Pacific Ring of Fire, the Philippines is no stranger to earthquakes.
If you need improvements to make your house more earthquake proof, click here for
great deals on home improvement items that you would definitely need.
Make your move

But what do you do if you're driving a moving vehicle when the "Big One" strikes?

According to experts from the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology


(Phivolcs), the important thing is not to panic, think quickly, and get to safety.

Follow this step-by-step guide on what you should do if you find yourself in a moving
vehicle:

Step 1: Be aware of the intensity of the earthquake

If the shaking due to the earthquake is strong (more than intensity 5), you will feel your
vehicle wobble like it has a flat tire. For drivers, this is a good indicator of an
earthquake.
Step 2: Pull to the side of the road and stop the car

Immediately pull to the side of the road and stop to avoid blocking the way for
ambulances and other emergency vehicles. Stay away from steep slopes, tall
structures, poles, lamp posts and trees that could fall on you.

Other Stories
What if a 7.2-magnitude earthquake hits Marikina?
Marikina leads the nationwide earthquake drill to prepare for a major earthquake that can be caused by
the movement of the West Valley fault

12-point checklist for an earthquake-resistant house


Is your house earthquake-resistant? Check yourself using these 12 questions.

What if a magnitude 7.2 quake strikes Manila?


The drill, set on Tuesday, July 2, highlights two worst-case disaster scenarios: the movement of the West
Valley Fault, and the movement of the Manila Trench

Step 3: Turn off your engine and put your handbrake on

Stay calm! Stay in your vehicle until the shaking stops. Be aware of your surroundings
and plan your exit.

Step 4: Go to the nearest safe open area

Once the shaking stops, you should get out of your car and go straight to an open area
that is safe. Avoid tall buildings, steep slopes, or places that are risky.
Step 5: Turn on your radio or access the Internet for information

Though the shaking has stopped, it doesn’t mean you are totally safe. With aftershocks
likely to follow, avoid crossing bridges, overpasses, flyovers or staying near buildings
and other structures that may collapse.Listen to the radio or check your phone to get the
latest updates from the government or your local officials. If you have access to the
Internet, share your situation with others through social media. (READ: How to use the
Project Agos Map during a disaster)
Stay alert and aware and start planning your next steps. Knowing these 5 steps can
save your life and the lives of others.

What dangers await when the West Valley Fault moves?

Check out the maps and the fast facts to understand the risks and plan how to
survive when a strong quake shakes Metro Manila and surrounding provinces
Preparedness

In a 2004 Metropolitan Manila Earthquake Impact Reduction Study conducted by the


Japan International Cooperation Agency, a magnitude 7.2 earthquake from the West
Valley Fault is estimated to cause massive destruction in Metro Manila.

Being inside a car can be used to your advantage as long as you stay safe. But the best
way to stay alive is to prepare yourself physically and mentally for an earthquake.

Disaster preparedness experts advise everyone to keep an emergency 'go bag' in your
car so you have a ready supply of food, medicine and, most importantly, water in case
an earthquake strikes.

Lastly, keep in mind that an earthquake can strike at anytime. -

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