#YolandaPH: Next 24 hours critical for response

What steps should be taken by the government and responders in the next 24 hours?

David Lozada

Published 8:35 PM, November 09, 2013

Updated 7:35 PM, July 02, 2014

RESCUE. Philippine troops begin to retrieve bodies strewn in areas devastated by Typhoon Haiyan, which was feared to have killed more than 100 people. Photo by Francis Malasig/ EPA

MANILA, Philippines – In every disaster, the next 24 hours is the most crucial for responders, affected residents and the government to set the stage for a massive relief effort. This is the time to assess damage, identify casualties, conduct rescue operations and map out a response program. (READ: Tacloban diary: I saw death, I feared anarchy)

Government efforts

According to seasoned disaster responder Dr. Ted Esguerra of the Center for Disaster and Emergency Management (CDEM), the government plays a most critical role in the aftermath of a calamity.

Esguerra said the most important thing the government should do is to send the police and the army to secure residents in hard-hit communities. In order to do this, it is important to establish air and sea support to transport responders and assess the damage.

He added the next step would be to find the nearest possible source of food and water and establish stable supply lines. “Potable water is the most important supply because people can survive for days if they have water,” he said in Filipino.

Esguerra also emphasized the importance of fixing communication lines during calamities. “It’s hard to determine and coordinate efforts without stable communication lines,” he told Rappler. (READ: Radio contact center set up in Tacloban)

Rapid response

Esguerra, who served for 28 years as a disaster responder for the Philippine Coast Guard, said first responders follow a standard set of procedures in every disaster situation.

The first step is for responder groups to secure staging areas which will serve as their headquarters. From here, responders will assess communication lines, the passability of roads and the stability of supply lines.

Visayas-based responder Emmanuel Batungbacal of the Mountain Hardware Philippines - Center for Outdoor Recreation and Expedition (MHW-CORE) Search and Rescue team said coordination is key for disaster responders.

“Responders must be prepared and self-sufficient with supplies for at least 3 days. In some cases, we get them vaccinated first so that they’re safe from water-borne diseases,” Batungbacal said.

He added that it is the responders’ task to find out the needs of the communities so they can report them to authorities and, in some cases, even help victims gather supplies.

For affected residents

Esguerra said affected residents must group together to collectively gather basic supplies and try to establish communication outside the community. If not too heavily affected, the community can also assess the damage in their area.

“The safest thing to do is to wait for help. They just need to wait for government forces and private responders trying to reach their community,” Esguerra said.

(READ: #ReliefPH: Victims of Typhoon Yolanda need your help)

Batungbacal emphasized the best way to respond to disasters is to be prepared. He said families in disaster-prone communities should have 3-day supplies ready in case of an emergency.

“We should not be reactive to disasters. We should prepare for our own safety,” Batungbacal said.

International aid

Representatives of international aid agencies are in Tacloban City and other affected areas to conduct a rapid assessment of the needs of the victims of the Typhoon. More groups are expected to arrive in the affected areas in the coming days.

(READ: After Yolanda, int'l community offers sympathy, aid)

As Yolanda moves away from the Philippines, local and national government agencies face the gargantuan task of providing relief to millions of Filipinos. Various private groups and the international community have offered support the speedy rehabilitation of victims.– Rappler.com

Help the victims of Typhoon Yolanda (international codename: Haiyan). Visit Rappler's list of ongoing relief operations in your area. Tell us about your relief and recovery initiatives, email move.ph@rappler.com or tweet us @moveph.

Visit rappler.com/typhoon-yolanda for the latest updates on Typhoon Yolanda.

More from our coverage:

Project Agos is supported by the Australian Government.