Study Guide

Precautionary and Safety Measures Before, Stay inside the car until the shaking stops. Do not
During, and After an Earthquake stop your car in areas with structures that may fall
or collapse.
Before an Earthquake
5. If you are on a bus or a train, hold tightly to the
1. Prepare a 72-hour survival kit. It should contain strap or handrail. Stay inside, and listen to the
at least the following items: bottled water, canned instructions of the train or bus staff. Wait until it is
goods and a can opener, a first aid kit, a safe to go out of the vehicle.
battery-powered radio, a flashlight with working
batteries, and a set of clothes. After an Earthquake

2. Avoid putting breakable items on high shelves 1. Expect aftershocks or lower magnitude of
or cabinets to avoid any accident if they fall off. vibrations that follow a main earthquake (Oxford
These items can easily fall even from slight shake. 2022) so remain calm.

3. Make sure all objects that are hung on the 2. Check yourself and the others for injuries. If you
ceilings or walls are securely fastened. Change the see anyone who seems to be injured, call for
screw or tighten it if you notice any slight medical assistance at once. Do not try to move the
movements. person as any injury or fracture may worsen with
slight movement.
4. Fasten heavy furniture to the walls or floor with
a hook or belt to keep them from falling. Tall 3. Avoid going near power lines especially if they
cabinets can be secured by hooking them up have fallen off or have been damaged.
against the wall. Immediately call the authorities to have them
fixed. Never attempt to touch or fix them as they
5. Know the emergency numbers of the police, might have an active electric current that can cause
rescue, and fire departments. Keep this information ignition, burning, electrocution, or explosion.
handy or place them in a location, where all the
household members can access and see them when 4. If you suspect any damaged electrical wiring,
the need arises. shut off the main power, and then turn off switches
and sockets. Call a licensed electrician to repair
During an Earthquake these damages.

1. If you are indoors, do not panic. Stay away from 5. Inspect gas tanks (by smell only) for leaks. If
glass windows and doors. Find a solid and stable there is an unusual smell or fume, call the proper
furniture where you can duck under to protect your authority to check for any gas leak.
head from any falling object. Apply the DCH
(Drop, Cover, and Hold) method. 6. Keep yourself updated of any announcements,
reports or advisories via radio, television, text
Drop-Stop the activity you are doing and messages, or other accessible and reliable
immediately drop down to the floor. platforms. Stay out of damaged buildings and areas
with broken glass and debris.
Cover - Protect your head and limbs from any
falling items, glass splinters, or debris by taking 7. Follow the emergency plan or the instructions of
cover under any stable furniture. building personnel if inside a building.

Hold - Hold on to the furniture until the earthquake Volcanic Eruptions

stops. If the shaking moves your shelter, move
with it. Potential Volcano-related Hazards

2. Avoid riding an elevator. If you are inside the - Volcanic hazards are volcano-related
elevator, press the button for the nearest floor, and phenomena that pose potential threat and
get off immediately. negative impact on life, property, and the
environment in a given period of time.
3. If you are outdoors, stay clear of buildings,
trees, light posts, power lines, and other structures 1. LAHAR - it refers to a combination of debris or
that could fall or collapse on you. Move to a higher mud mixed with volcanic materials, such as gas
area if you are in coastal areas for any possible and molten rocks, that flow down from a volcano.
occurrence of tsunamis.
2. ASHFALL - volcanic ash is usually spewed out
4. If you are driving or inside a car, slow down, from explosive eruptions when dissolved gasses in
and turn on the hazard lights to alert other drivers.
 Study Guide

magma expand and are released violently into the 4. Secure livestock in enclosed shelters.
atmosphere.
5. Listen to public safety announcements of local
3. PYROCLASTIC FLOW - this is a fast-moving authorities. If the local authorities order
fluidized mass of rock fragments and gases. evacuation, you have to follow.

4. BALLISTIC PROJECTILE - molten rocks as During an Eruption

bomb and blocks
1. Follow evacuation orders issued by local
5. VOLCANIC GAS - consists of sulfur dioxide authorities and remind family members of your
and hydrogen sulfide. Can cause acid rain, disaster plan. Do not attempt to go back to your
respiratory or health risk for people. home if it is not yet declared safe.

6. LAVA FLOW - molten rock that pours down 2. If the local authorities suggest staying indoors,
from the slopes of the volcano. Slower than prepare a damp cloth, and put it in your windows
pyroclastic flow. and doors, so fine ashes and smoke may not enter
your house.
Signs of Impending Volcanic Eruption
3. Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants.
1. Increased and recurring tremors or vibrations
within the area 4. Use goggles to protect your eyes.

2. Changes in surface formations that may be 5. Use a dust mask or hold a damp cloth over your
caused by ground elevation (tilting) or opening of face to prevent inhalation of ashes and other
cracks (ground fissuring) volcanic particles.

3. Increased release of volcanic gases and rise in 6. Avoid low-lying regions and river areas near the
atmospheric temperature volcano as volcanic debris will most likely
accumulate in these areas because of wind and
4. Brighter glow of volcanic crater, usually more gravity.
visible at night, which means that the magma has
risen to the crater 7. Always keep yourself updated of any
information or advisory from the government
5. Increased steam coming out of ground openings, through radios, televisions, text messages, or any
which include hot springs social media platform.

6. Drying of small surface waters like creeks, After an Eruption

streams, or rivers nearby
1. Make sure there is a clearance from your local
7. Color changes in vegetation and soils due to government before you head home.
minerals that come out of the cracks
2. Inspect your house carefully for any damages
Precautionary and Safety Measures During, before you enter it. Do not enter your house if you
and After a Volcanic Eruption smell gas, if lahar is present, or if authorities have
declared it unsafe.
Before an Eruption
3. If you or a family member has a respiratory
1. Stay updated of the local news, ailment such as asthma or bronchitis, stay away
from volcanic ashfall areas. Volcanic ash can cause
2. Learn about your community warning systems severe damage to the respiratory system and
and emergency plans. Gather all household irritation to the skin and the eyes.
members, and talk about protocols for emergency
preparedness. Ensure that each member 4. Wear a dust mask, gloves, and goggles while
understands his or her role in the plans, and where cleaning the debris and ashfall to avoid further
to access emergency response kits. damage.

3. Prepare a 72-hour emergency supply kit that 5. Check electrical wirings, appliances, and gas
should include the following: first aid kit, clean tanks before using them.
clothes, food and water, flashlight with extra
batteries, battery-operated radio, prescribed 6. Be careful with drinking water supplied through
medicines, dust masks, goggles, and sturdy shoes. pipes. The pipes may be contaminated with
particles from the volcanic eruption.
 Study Guide

A storm surge is the rise of seawater that gushes

7. Stay informed and listen for emergency updates toward the shores. This is caused by strong winds
and news. usually from typhoons. Storm surge happens in
coastal areas.

Other Geologic Hazards El Niño is the prolonged warming of the oceans in

a long period of time in central and east-central
LANDSLIDE - Another term for landslide is Equatorial Pacific. This causes dry spells and
landslip. Both pertain to movement of land on an drought.
inclined surface. Landslides can be triggered by
environmental conditions such as rain, flood, and La Niña happens when there is a drop in the
wind. temperature of the oceans causing long and
frequent rains.
SINKHOLES - Sinkholes are large pits that
result from the collapse of the surface exposing Hydrometeorological hazards can cause property
the hollow interior of the ground. It should be damages, displacement of homes, and livelihood
noted that sinkholes can only happen in areas with and agricultural losses.
soils containing limestone.

HYDROMETEOROLOGICAL HAZARDS Additional materials for learning:

Typhoons, thunderstorms, floods, storm ● https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWobs

surges, El Niño, and La Niña are natural qqeqbc&t=436s
occurrences brought by the hydrometeorological ● https://www.pagasa.dost.gov.ph/learning-t
systems of the Earth. They are part of the natural ools/tropical-cyclone-wind-signal
cycles of energy transfer on Earth.

Flooding and flash flood can also be caused by

inefficient drainage systems, limited spaces,
unmanaged waste disposal triggering severe
flooding, and flash flood in sloping areas.

A Doppler radar is used to gather weather

surveillance data. This is managed by PAGASA,
and the data collected is used to report and forecast
any weather disturbance.

Tropical Cyclones are formed when the sea

surface temperature is more than 27.5 C.

(ITCZ) Intertropical Convergence Zone is the

area near the equator where trade winds meet.

Typhoons are weather phenomena with intense

swirling winds reaching more than 220 kph.
(185 kph above Revised by PAGASA)

Trade winds These consist of opposing winds, as

if exchanging directions, which
account for the swirling motion.

Thunderstorms are weather phenomena with

heavy rains producing an electric current from the
interaction of ions on the ground and low clouds.

Flood is accumulation of water in low-lying areas

after a rainfall. Poor drainage and poor city
planning may cause flood in urban areas.

Flash flood is the rapid rise of water after a heavy

rainfall.