As a student who is currently living away from home, it is best to be prepared in times of peril or disasters, especially since I don’t have my parents with me anymore. Knowing the risks around the surroundings of UST and UST itself isa crucial to help myself and others. The area around UST especially Espana and Dapitan side are prone to flooding. Besides that the closeness of the residential and commercial buildings can cause a fire to become larger as it spreads. Another thing that may be considered a hazard, is that UST is located only 15.3km away from a fault line. Although it is still pretty far, it can still damage a lot of buildings and roads and the aftershocks may pose a serious threat.

It has become a trend for UST students to refer to themselves as tiger sharks, because when it rains and begins to flood, most thomasians willingly trudge through the dirty water of the flood to get home or to higher ground. Flooding usually happens when there is a continuous large amount of rain over a period of hours or days. In the Dapitan Area most streets like Navarra, Antonio and Asturias experience floods but it does not usually rise higher than the calf nor does it pose a threat to residents and students. There has also been a recent road paving that lifted the road higher making it safer in case of a flood.

The area surrounding Barangay 471, according to the official is relatively safe due to the landscape it has. As mentioned Dapitan St, is usually the one that has floods (due to my experience) as well as the flood can easily be managed or subsided. Although let us still not forget that there may be unforeseen circumstances or people who cannot be safe inside a home during the time of disaster. If ever a disaster comes here near the barangay the people that would be most affected are the ones who’s homes might not have that much structural integrity. There are also stray pets or animals and even the children/homeless in the streets who have no permanent house or bed. In an event of an earthquake, it would be dangerous to be inside high buildings or near electrical poles that may collapse. Many countermeasures have been placed or made by the barangay against these disasters. Evacuation areas around have been made and there have been weekly clean up drives and de-clogging of the trash around canals that ensure no flooding may take place.

The barangay also conducted seminars in which the people were given instructions what to do during earthquakes. How they may prepare emergency kits, where the evacuation centers are and what to do in case it happens (i.e duck, cover and hold). Knowing your barangay can be crucial when disaster strikes. Always look around you and know the risks so that each and every move and person around you can be safe.

Be yourself; Everyone else is already taken.

— Oscar Wilde.

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