Perhaps the number one fear of potential buyers of condos or those who already do condo living is the imminence of earthquakes. Of course, no one is safe from an earthquake but living in a high-rise building can make anyone more anxious. However, if one takes the necessary precautions to be prepared when the emergency arises, then there will be no reason to be anxious.
What makes a typhoon easier to prepare for is the ability of meteorologists to forecast them. This is how people can prepare by purchasing emergency equipment and evacuating to faraway places before the storm strikes.
Unfortunately, the same privilege does not apply to an earthquake. Despite the exponential rise of technology, no one can still predict when an earthquake can happen.
That being said, many adjustments are made to combat this disadvantage. One, going back to the anxiety associated with living in a high-rise building, developers have prioritized in their condo design the structure’s ability to withstand disasters as such. Most importantly, an earthquake is prepared for as if it could happen any second now.
These are the different ways to manage disasters in preparation for an earthquake.
Learn and practice your condo’s emergency evacuation plan
In condo living, every major condo has an emergency evacuation plan implemented when the need arises. The plan itself is usually displayed on TV screens and bulletin boards around the place or digitally on their website or social media.
In other cases, the condo authorities allocate a day to practice the plan through a drill or pilot simulation of an emergency.
Use the information advertised or the drill being practiced to understand how to evacuate the area.
Understand your area and its proximity
Location is one of the indicators of a valuable investment. When preparing for an earthquake, it is best to know when you are currently standing and the areas near you.
Ways to prepare for this include knowing the modern structures — when was this building established and is it resistant to earthquake shaking? And locating the faultline if it is near or not.
For example, 878 España by Vista Residences, a ready for occupancy condo in Manila, is relatively safe because the structure itself, just like any Vista Residence condominium, is built the withstand earthquakes. For the area around Vista Heights, there are no high-rise buildings nor a faultline. Therefore, evacuating from an area like this should be fairly easy and safe.
Know your room
Knowing your condominium unit is the most important because this is where you will most likely be when a disaster strikes. Since the proximity and the general area of the condominium have been discussed, you are knowing the ins and outs of your area.
When preparing your condominium for an earthquake, you should identify the safe areas and keep them accessible. In addition to this, you should identify potential hazards around your condo to minimize damage and potential danger to you and your loved ones. Examples of hazards include but are not limited to stoves or appliances that are not stationary, hanging plants that are not stationary and could swing around, and fragile and/or heavy objects in high places.
Using the condo for sale in Manila as an example, Vista Heights, the units are designed to ideally have an interior wall, bed, and table near each other. Since these are the safest places to be in during an earthquake, keeping yourself and others should be easy and accessible by keeping them near each other.
Making earthquake kits
When an earthquake strikes, there are a few valuable essentials you need to have above everything else. Examples of items that need to be part of your earthquake kit are first-aid kits, food and water, extra tools, and other items listed here.
Earthquake kits are daily easy to assemble since these items can be found around the house. If not, you can easily purchase each item individually or ready-made earthquake kits. Every condo in Manila is near a mall or supermarket so the availability of amenities such as these is all at your convenience.
Practice Drop, Cover, and Hold
All disaster prevention measures preach these Drop, Cover, and Hold. Having the instinct to do these three, in the said order, when an earthquake happens improves your chance of surviving the disaster. Especially in condo living, where earthquakes are extra dangerous, you need to keep practicing this. This is how to properly execute this.
Drop: Drop onto your hands and knees. This keeps you and your head down and allows you to crawl to safety.
Cover: Always keep your hands on your head and your neck. These are most vulnerable in times of an earthquake and could severely injure you if damaged. If you cannot find cover under a table or anything sturdy, stay behind an interior wall.
Hold: Once you have dropped and covered, stay covered until the rumbling stops. After that, count a minute or even more for potential aftershocks. When it feels safe, while keeping your hand over your head and neck, evacuate the area.
The don’ts of an earthquake
While emotions are heightened during an earthquake, one must stay composed; should not react emotionally, and stay rational.
The following are what you should not be doing during an earthquake.
One, do not run outside the condo. Running creates chaos and disorder and might make it harder for others to evacuate. Stay inside and only leave when it is safe. Two, do not yell for help. Shouting also creates chaos and may cause panic among people near you. If you want to call for attention, keep a whistle with you. And three, do not drop, cover, and hold in the kitchen. The kitchen is a life hazard during an earthquake due to the electrical appliances and the items on the shelves like plates, glasses, and pans. That being said, avoid the kitchen at all costs.
Earthquakes are a scary and anxiety-filled experience. But with this extensive list on how to prepare for an earthquake, the calmness when dealing with one should follow. If you feel completely prepared for an earthquake, then there is no reason to panic.
If you are thinking of investing in a condo, check out the condominium properties of Vista Residences.
Vista Residences is the condominium arm of the country’s largest homebuilder, Vista Land & Lifescapes, Inc. that offers ready for occupancy and pre-selling condominium projects in Manila, Makati, Mandaluyong, Quezon City, Ortigas, Baguio, Cebu, and CDO that are strategically located within major cities, in close proximity to premium universities, transit oriented locations and developed business districts.
At Vista Residences, unit owners can take advantage of the property’s centrality. The properties of Vista Residences are strategically located near the country’s premium universities and CBDs, making them an attractive investment for both local and foreign investors.
Living in Vista Residences enables you to enjoy convenience, where everything is pretty much within walking distance or a few minutes away from the property; comfort because the project features and amenities are designed to deliver comfort at all times, which makes condo living a worthy investment; security that is 24/7 and CCTV monitoring, which makes the residents safe and secure within the property.
In line with Vista Residences’ thrust to offer convenience among its residents, it also features an AllDay Convenience Store and Coffee Project in all its projects.
For more information on Vista Residences, email [email protected], follow @VistaResidencesOfficial on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube, or call the Marketing Office at 0999 886 4262 / 0917 582 5167.
