Gov't reiterates call for public to stay calm in times of earthquakes

By Erlinda Olivia P. Tiu

Friday 6th of July 2012

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, July 6 (PIA) -- The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Region 8 reiterated its call to the public not to panic and stay calm during earthquakes.

Director Rey Gozon who is also the chairman of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council of Eastern Visayas, made the call right after a 4.9 magnitude earthquake jolted Naval and the entire province of Biliran at 7:09 p.m. Wednesday.

Initial reports coming from Naval said that patients of the Biliran District Hospital were led out so that authorities could check any structural damage. The Naval Engineering Office has been dispatched by Mayor Susan Parilla to check business buildings.

Gozon said people must not panic especially while there's a tremor as this will affect their decision-making. Instead, people must remain calm, look for a safer place like under a durable table, and take the "Dock, Cover, and Hold position" in order to protect themselves from falling debris.

If one is inside a structurally sound building, stay there, Gozon said. Stay away from glass windows, shelves, cabinets, and other heavy objects. One must beware of falling objects, be alert, and keep his or her eyes open.

The OCD director said that one should never use elevators during earthquakes. If somebody is inside a high-rise building, there might not be enough time to go down, instead, it would be better to go up, because in a worst case scenario, when a building collapses, people on top are easier rescued.

If one is outside, he must move to an open area and stay away from trees, power lines, posts, and concrete structure. One must also move away from steep slopes which maybe affected by landslides.(PIA 8)