EDITORIAL - Decent shelters

With memories of other deadly typhoons still fresh in their minds, residents of many parts of Mindanao did what they could to get out of harm’s way as super typhoon “Pablo” made landfall yesterday. Some local authorities still had to resort to forced evacuation, but most residents readily moved to safer ground to avoid mudslides and torrential flooding.

With houses destroyed, authorities must now move to prevent the spread of diseases at crowded evacuation centers and flooded communities. Pablo is expected to continue roaring across the country at least until tomorrow. It will take time before those displaced by the typhoon can return to their communities, especially in areas hit by massive flooding.

Health officials warned that in cramped evacuation centers, which housed over 50,000 people as of yesterday afternoon, diseases could spread quickly especially among children. Flu, diarrhea from lack of safe water, and respiratory illnesses are among the most common afflictions. In flooded communities, the biggest risks are dengue and leptospirosis. Natural disasters can continue claiming lives long after they have left the country.

Some local government units have improved their preparedness for evacuating large numbers of people. In most parts of the country, however, evacuation facilities during disasters are still inadequate. This is true even in coastal communities along the country’s eastern seaboard that are usually the worst hit by typhoons, being in the direct path of weather disturbances from the Pacific.

Addressing this problem should not be impossible for local governments and disaster mitigation authorities. With experts predicting more extreme weather disturbances in the coming years, every nation must improve its preparedness for the worst. Preparedness includes the provision of decent temporary shelters for those displaced by natural calamities.