source: pna.gov.ph
Bracing for a “worst scenario†in case the Angat dam in Norzagaray burst during an earthquake, government disaster response teams Monday held a simultaneous earthquake drill from the dam site to the low lying villages in this town.
Provincial officials led by Gov. Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado and Vice Gov. Daniel Fernando made a first hand evaluation on the immediate response of government emergency teams from the sounding of alarm to the evacuation phase of the drill.
Alvarado said the earthquake drill was part of disaster officials third quarter nationwide simultaneous
earthquake drill for critical infrastructures, like Angat Dam.
The drill was supervised by NDRRMC officials led by Eduardo Batac, undersecretary for Civil, Veterans and Reserve Affairs of the Dept. of National Defense.
“It pays to be always alert and ready so that we will not be caught flatfooted when disaster of such magnitude struck,†the governor said.
The drill started with ground shaking or the recognition of a possible 7.2 magnitude earthquake in which Napocor officials would conduct inspection of the dam and its facilities then check the possible occurrence/identification of dam break/breach.
If such an incident occurs, dam officials will activate its emergency action plans and will immediately notify and disseminate information to local government units, concerned agencies and then activate the early warning system and monitor the situation.
At the same time, officials of Ipo and Bustos dams will also activate their own emergency action plans.
The earthquake drill showed the immediate response of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils of Norzagaray and Calumpit in the activation of their respective emergency action plans, in coordination with local and barangay officials which will conduct information dissemination to agencies and residents.
The PDRMMC will then facilitate the establishments of command posts that will oversee traffic, security, transport, rescue, fire fighting units and logistic teams.
The PDRMMC said that it is also important to prepare families for the evacuation phase which will be handled by village officials in coordination with the Bulacan Rescue, the Philippine National Police, the Bureau of Fire Protection and the Philippine Army.
The drill also simulated a scenario from the Metro Manila Earthquake Impact Reduction Study where the valley fault system causes a 7.2 magnitude earthquake causing piping failure in Angat dam.
Ramos said 20 towns in Bulacan, seven in Pampanga and three cities in Metro manila would be affected by inundations as high as 10 to 30 meters.
“This activity is part of the government’s continuing efforts in enhancing public awareness and strengthening the nation’s capability in disaster prevention, management and response,†Ramos said.
Linkback:
https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=55103.0