Typhoon Drill Strengthens Community Preparedness in Del Carmen’s Island Barangays
SIARGAO — On November 20, 2024, Del Carmen, Surigao del Norte, took a significant step toward building resilience and safeguarding lives with its first-ever community typhoon simulation drill.
Conducted simultaneously in the island barangays of Caub, San Fernando, and Domoyog, the activity—organized under the Resilient IsLA Project—engaged 25 households per barangay along with the Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Committees (BDRRMCs). This hands-on exercise aimed to enhance disaster preparedness and strengthen the community’s capacity to respond to future emergencies.
The simulation brought together a wide network of local agencies, including the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO), Municipal Planning and Development Office (MPDO), Municipal Health Office (MHO), Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Philippine Coast Guard, Municipal Engineering Office, Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO), Municipal Agriculture and Fisheries Office (MAFO), and the Rural Health Unit (RHU). Their collaboration demonstrated the importance of unified, multi-sectoral efforts in protecting vulnerable communities.
For many residents and local officials, the drill was a transformative experience beyond simulation. It exposed critical gaps in current preparedness strategies and empowered participants to address these vulnerabilities proactively. Reflecting on their experiences during Typhoon Odette, many community members expressed heartfelt gratitude to Action Against Hunger for organizing the activity. “This was a valuable opportunity for us to learn and prepare,” shared one participant. “It’s our first time doing a drill like this, and now we feel stronger and more united as a community.”
The exercise underscored Action Against Hunger’s core advocacy: ensuring that the most vulnerable communities are equipped with the knowledge and tools to withstand disasters. By focusing on preparedness from the household level to barangay and municipal offices, the drill highlighted the importance of coordination, resource mobilization, and effective response strategies.
This initiative is part of the broader Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation (DRR-CCA) efforts under the Resilient IsLA Project, funded by the United States Agency for International Development’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (USAID-BHA). The project aims to strengthen community resilience through capacity-building and practical preparedness activities, ensuring that no one is left behind when disaster strikes.
The success of this drill marks a crucial step toward fostering safer, more resilient communities in Del Carmen. It also serves as an inspiring model for other barangays in the municipality, demonstrating the power of collective action and community-driven preparedness in the face of growing climate challenges.
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