GMA launches I M Ready plugs

MANILA, Philippines –  GMA News and Public Affairs delivers serbisyong totoo with the special I M Ready: Alerto sa Lindol series of plugs and reports in its newscasts beginning this week.  I M READY is an interactive, multi-media campaign that urges the public to be prepared for any emergency situation.

The I M Ready: Alerto sa Lindol plugs share some tips on what to do before, during and after an earthquake gathered from the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS).

Some of the tips are the following:

1. Have the structural soundness of buildings and important infrastructures evaluated and reinforce or retrofit them if necessary.

2. Strap heavy furniture/cabinets to the wall to prevent sliding or toppling.

3. Store breakable items, harmful chemicals and flammable materials in the lowermost shelves and secure the shelves firmly.

4. If you are outside during an earthquake, get away from power lines, posts, walls and other structures that may fall or collapse.

5. If you are along the shore and you feel a very strong earthquake, strong enough to make standing difficult, it is always safest to assume that a tsunami has been triggered. Run away from the shore toward higher ground.

6. Check your water and electrical lines for defects. If any damage is suspected, turn the system off in the main valve or switch.

The public may also send its own I M READY tips and video entries through GMA News’ Twitter account (hashtag: #imready) and YouScoop page (www.youscoop.tv). The campaign also has a web counterpart via www.gmanews.tv/imready.

Launched last year, the first series of I M Ready plugs presented tips to prepare for floods and typhoons, particularly relevant in light of the destruction caused by Typhoon Ondoy.

The campaign received an Anvil Merit Award for crisis or disaster and risk communications.

I M Ready shares with the viewers practical tips on how to prepare for emergency situations using three M’s — Magplano, Magsiguro, Makibalita — as guide.  

Stay tuned to GMA 7 and GMA News TV Channel 11 for more earthquake preparedness tips and reports.