Disaster and hazard-prone areas maps as tool for better disaster management

By Estrella Z. Gallardo

Tacloban City – The study made to identify disaster and hazard prone areas led the way for the drafting of maps for areas vulnerable to fire, flood and typhoons, which will guide local officials and executives to determine priority project while serving as tool for better disaster management and adaptation.        

The fire hazard map developed for the purpose showed that out of the city’s 138 barangays, 83 are very highly hazardous, 12 are highly hazardous, 32 are hazardous to a medium degree, and 11 are hazardous to a low degree. 

The classifications made were based on the high frequency of fire occurrence in a particular barangay, presence of access roads, number of houses and their distances, as well as the building materials used.

With regards to fire vulnerability, the study identified those structures where large group of people usually gather. These include churches, shopping centers, schools, hospital, business establishments and government offices and facilities, among others.

The flood disaster map showed areas where floods constantly happen even with only short heavy rains. These areas include those low-lying areas with no proper drainage and areas along shores, rivers, creeks, and swamps.

The study further showed that areas that have 10 meters elevation and 500 meters distance from the shore and river buffer of 500 meters on both sides are vulnerable to floods.

            In the maps, aside from the areas prone to fire, flood and typhoon indicated, the researchers from Eastern Visayas State University, who conducted the study, also recommended the provision of roads, for urban poor communities and the widening of existing ones to allow passage of fire trucks during fire which may occur in the elevated areas in the northern barangays situated in the mountains and hills.

            The researchers also suggested the conduct of regular inspection of the hazard in every home by residents, fire safety drills, inspection of flooded areas to identify causes, construction of drainage facilities, and even the construction of dikes or seawalks, among other measures.

These information, which find importance in environmental disasters, were taken by Ricardo R. Argana of S&T Media Services from the 2009 Highlights, a publication of the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD). Estrella Z. Gallardo, PSciJourn MegaManila