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Socio-Natural Disasters

Each year the country is affected by numerous disasters. In the face of disasters, the most frequently encountered problem with individual or community behaviour is the lack of preparation to deal with the disaster in its three basic stages: before, during and after.
General recommendations

Before the disaster. The first step is to know your local contingency plans. Take part in drills; remember they are for your sake and are aimed at improving weaknesses in this area. If you are asked to evacuate and take refuge, do so immediately. Request fire extinguisher management training. Be proactive in the event of a disaster; this will allow you to be better at dealing with the event.

During the disaster. A hurricane or lava slide are two disasters which allow for sufficient preparation time. However, earthquakes, frosts and landslides, among other disasters, do not always allow you to take all the necessary precautions. In these cases, it will be essential that you abide by the following recommendations, which will lessen the effect of the disaster: Stay away from glass, windows and shelves with loose materials. In the event of an earthquake or hurricane, broken glass acts as sharp projectiles that, accompanied with loose objects (bottles, cans, tanks), can cause serious injury. Shelter yourself under a propped door frame, or under a strong desk or table.

After the disaster. Lower the lever on the fuse box or breakers. If it smells like gas, open the windows, exit the unit, close it and move away. Open furniture carefully. Beware of objects that could fall off the shelves! Collaborate with responsible staff or follow the instructions of such staff.

Evacuate if necessary. Locate evacuation routes. Proceed with caution and proceed to meeting points. Do not use elevators. Follow the instructions of the responsible staff

Volcanic Eruption

Volcanoes always pose a risk and, therefore, preemptively, we must know the dangers that they may present. However, it is rare for a volcano to go into activity without warning.

There are more than 2,000 volcanoes in our country. Of these, only around ten are considered as active or dangerous.

The volcanic alert traffic light is the mechanism of the National Protection System that maintains information about the different levels of danger presented by volcanic activity.

  • If the traffic light is green, it is a normal situation so you can go about your daily activities, but you must take preventive measures including:
  • Keeping informed
  • Learning about evacuation routes and meeting locations
  • Attending training courses offered by the Civil Protection Unit and participating in exercises and drills held in your community
  • Having a flashlight with spare batteries, a portable radio, a small medicine cabinet, drinking water and basic documents on hand.
  • If the traffic light is yellow, it’s an alert situation.  You should be alert and aware of what the authorities and the news tell you, as well as following some recommendations that include
  • Preparing a card with your name and address for each member of your family
  • If your home has gas, electricity and water services, make sure you know how to close them
  • If you can, store drinking water and food, medicines you or someone in your family needs, as well as your most important documents such as property titles, birth or marriage certificates, cards, etc.
  • If the traffic light is red, it indicates that the population should re locate to safe places, and must also:
  • Stay calm and reunite with family
  • Make sure all doors and windows in the house are closed and place a white sheet or cloth on the street to indicate that it is an evacuated household
  • Go immediately to the meeting points, carrying only the essentials.
  • Collaborate in the temporary shelter
  • Get as far away as possible from the volcano, walking through the upper parts to a safe place if the meeting center cannot be located or means of transport to evacuate are not presented
  • Return to normality
  • Don’t get carried away by false rumors, only authorities can tell you when to return home
  • Before entering your home, check the conditions it is in. In case you have doubts, consult with the emergency staff. If the roof has ash, remove it immediately, taking care that it does not go to the drain.
  • Do not use electricity or gas until you are sure that the facilities are clean of ash and in good condition.
  • Stay alert to the color of the traffic light and follow the recommendations of the local Civil Protection Committee.
  • In case of ash fall
  • Protect your eyes, nose and mouth if you’re going out.
  • Avoid exercise
  • Close doors and windows and seal slits and vents with damp rags to limit dust entry.
  • Cover equipment and cars so they don’t deteriorate or scratch
  • Continuously remove ash to prevent it from accumulating on weak ceilings
  • Cover all strainers and collect ashes to prevent them from going into the drain.
Cyclone

Cyclones can be classified in three levels according to the strength of their winds: Tropical Depression, Tropical Storm and Hurricane. Hurricanes have five categories and since they are predictable phenomena, an “Early Warning System” was established. This system comprises five phases, during which the Civil Protection System, through mass media, keeps the population informed so that they know what to do.

1Notice is emitted when the presence of the phenomenon is detected.Se emite cuando se detecta la presencia del fenómeno.

2Alert is emitted when the detected phenomenon can cause damage, signaling its possible trajectory and the likely area of damage. It’s time to act.

3Emergency 

will be disseminated when the phenomenon approaches and threats municipalities. It’s time to take action and evacuate if the authorities instruct you to do so. Secure your home and bring the essentials with you. Stay calm and reassure your family. A person who panics can make many mistakes. Disconnect all appliances and close the gas and water keys. Help alert your acquaintances. If your home is safe and you decided to stay in it keep calm, close doors and windows, protecting the glass inside with X-shaped adhesive tape. Don’t open the curtains. Have emergency items and a medical first aid kit on hand. If the wind opens a door or window, do not move towards it.

  • will be disseminated when the phenomenon approaches and threats municipalities. It’s time to take action and evacuate if the authorities instruct you to do so.
  • Secure your home and bring the essentials with you.
  • Stay calm and reassure your family. A person who panics can make many mistakes.
  • Disconnect all appliances and close the gas and water keys. Help alert your acquaintances.
  • If your home is safe and you decided to stay in it keep calm, close doors and windows, protecting the glass inside with X-shaped adhesive tape. Don’t open the curtains.
  • Have emergency items and a medical first aid kit on hand.
  • If the wind opens a door or window, do not move towards it.

4Alarm 

  • will be transmitted when the phenomenon is already affecting certain communities. By then, the population should be located in safe places, as torrents, floods and landslides are the main danger.
  • If you are in a shelter, do not leave until the authorities indicate that the danger is over.
  • The eye of the cyclone creates a calm that can last up to an hour and then is followed by a destructive force with high speed winds in the opposite direction.

5Attention to contingency

  • During this phase, the authorities will report on the situation and the measures to be taken.
  • Don’t forget to stay calm: a calm mind can help more in crisis situations.
  • If there are any injuries, report them immediately to the emergency services.
  • Work with your neighbors to repair the damage.
  • If necessary, ask the relief brigade or the nearest authorities for assistance.
  • If your home is in the affected area, you should not return to it until the authorities indicate so.
  • The authorities will inform you about support mechanisms for reconstruction
Earthquakes

The frequency of the earthquakes in vulnerable areas requires preventive measures to be taken in order to mitigate or reduce the effects of these phenomena.

Before: Consult the Civil Protection Unit or local authorities for directions on:

  • Whether the area you live in can be affected by severe seismic movements.
  • What the protective measures you should take at home or work center are
  • How can you collaborate with relief brigades if you are interested in training to participate in this situation
  • Keep on hand a battery powered radio, a flashlight and personal documents.

Before: Make sure your home or workplace is at the lowest possible risk:

  • Request the service of an engineer, an architect or a expert to detect the most vulnerable parts of your home in the face of an earthquake, and identify the safest places where you can protect yourself.
  • Regularly check and repair, if applicable, gas and electricity facilities so that they are always in good condition.
  • Prepare, study, and practice with your family or co-workers a plan to use in the event of an earthquake.
  • Have emergency phone numbers on hand (like those of the Red Cross, Civil Protection hospitals, firefighters, police, etc.)
  • Place large, heavy objects in shelves or low places.
  • Organize drills periodically, so that each family member knows what to do during the earthquake
  • Locate safe places in every room: under solid tables, sturdy desks, support walls, or door frames with locks. Reinforce this information by having each family member choose one of these places to protect themselves.
  • Identify hazardous places in your home to get away from them, such as windows where glass could crash, bookshelves, or other falling furniture.
  • Identify evacuation routes and keep them free.

During

  • Stay calm and place yourself in the safest areas where you are at the time of the earthquake and try to protect yourself in the best possible way by staying where you Most of those injured during earthquake have been such because they tried to enter or leave houses or buildings.
  • Stand under a door frame with a lock or with your back against a string wall.
  • Curl yourself into “ball”, hugging yourself in a corner; if possible, protect your head with a cushion or cover.
  • Stay away from broken windows, mirrors, and glassware.
  • Avoid being under hanging objects.
  • Stay away from heavy bookshelves, cabinets, or furniture that might fall or drop its contents.
  • Stay away from stoves, fire pits, coffee makers, radiators or any hot utensils.
  • If you are in a building, stay where you are; do not try to use elevators or stairs during the earthquake.
  • Stay calm.
  • If you are outside, look for a shelter. Make sure you are safe from wires, posts, trees and branches, exterior stairs, buildings with ornamental facades, balconies and any other object that may fall
  • If you are in your vehicle, drive serenely to a place that is far from bridges or light posts and park in an out-of-danger location.
  • In public and crowded places (cinema, theatre, subway, stadium, classroom) do not shout, do not run, do not push; leave calmly if the exit is not congested; otherwise stay in your own seat, placing his arms on your head and lowering to your knees (in a ‘ball’ position)
  • If you are in the subway or underground transportation system, stay calm and follow the instructions of the surveillance personnel. Please note that the structure of the rail transport system provides safety.
  • If you have become trapped, stay calm and try to communicate to the outside by banging on an object.

If you stay in your home or workplace:

  • Check for injury and, if necessary, seek medical help.
  • Do not use the elevators and be careful with stairs; they could have been weakened with the earthquake
  • Avoid stepping on or touching any fallen or loose
  • Carry out a careful review of the damage; if they are serious harms to vertical elements (columns and / or load walls), do not make use of the property.
  • Do not light matches, candles, open or electric flame appliances until you ensure that there are no leaks or problems in the electricity or gas
  • If there is a fire, call firefighters or relief brigades.
  • Use your phone only to report an emergency.
  • Turn on the radio to stay informed and receive guidance.
  • When you open cupboards, shelves or wardrobes, do so carefully because objects may fall on you.
  • Do not spread rumors or diffuse them, they disorient the population.
  • Please follow instructions from the authorities or relief brigades.
  • Carefully conduct a complete review of your house.

If it is necessary to evacuate:

  • Pre-pack your personal documents: birth certificates, marriage, deeds, agricultural documents, cardboard, CURP, etc., in a well-enclosed plastic bag, stored in backpacks
  • When leaving, do so with care and order; follow the instructions of the authorities or relief brigades.
  • Be prepared for future earthquakes, also called aftershocks or replicas. They are generally weaker, but can cause additional damage

*Sin Fronteras IAP does not represent any public or government agency. For more information, please visit the following web site: https://www.gob.mx/cenapred

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