𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐑𝐢𝐬𝐤 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐜 𝐑𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

Clouds above clump and rainfalls crawl within windows and walls. The scenario during typhoons and storms always brings net negative outcomes to every region it crashes through.

While widest dissemination of information regarding disaster risk reduction and readiness are commendable, everyone should still uphold critical thinking skills especially in these most critical times; this applies both to the sender and receiver.

𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧

This is a call out to the revolutionary wave of the internet revitalizing the norm of harnessing knowledge. The ease that comes with receiving information nowadays with just a few clicks also leads to vital data being mishandled.

Storms inside minds are even stronger when comprehension is apprehended and an unwanted amount of tension filled the room.

If anyone still does not catch this concern, just think about the panic people experience when hearing the phrases “parang Reming ‘to” or “mas malala pa sa Glenda,” worse if Yolanda came into comparison. As much as analogies help navigate the gravity of its gauge, please be more gentle: those names can trigger trauma from the people who were affected during the time.

Panic comes close to climbing a tree to avoid a flood yet its trunks are already near to falling down. Even unintended words can induce paranoia, which hinders calm and collected preparation to the forecasted weather disturbance.

While the internet is inescapable in this world, it should not be intentionally used to perpetuate unnecessary emotions to overly-worded worries, especially that there are already more than enough stresses and issues in the community.

𝐅𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐞, 𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐦

Storm signals and wind signals bring alert, forecasts show anticipation, it is in between these announcements where flaws in terminologies and understanding and misled indication of observations missile the calmness of the crowd.

The red sky, that trending discussion recently, came off as an example. To set things straight, those notions about the weather conditions in the “east” and “west” are only in temperate places; the Philippines is tropical. Next, the color changes are just coincidental on the next day’s weather.

Also, it has to be settled that weather forecasts show traces of uncertainty to compensate for the fact that weather cannot be accurately predicted, just as how human abilities are limited since the start of time. Take the weather bulletins by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) as an example. On the dots lie the center of the weather system, and the colored area that gradually widens are all the possible tracks where it will traverse. This is a reprimand to people who illogically blame Pagasa that the typhoon track changed from one weather forecast to another.

Both the misinterpretation of a natural phenomenon and the misunderstanding of a data source add up to the aforementioned panic when facing typhoons. It is never too late to learn new things, and if now is an opportunity, take this as the chance and sign to be educated.

𝐓𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

In a typhoon’s cycle, weather forecasts issued by accredited and credible atmospheric, meteorological, and climatological agencies serve as the forefront of anticipation for the masses to prepare in accordance with the dangers impending in their area. For the very few of the population who are sufficiently literate to read the maps and graphics, this is understandable. But for most, transcribing laid information comes almost always to a mistranslation.

This is a public service advisory to read intelligently and be critical in the acceptance of what is right and not. In this context, those who spread more technical words are even antagonized for being “too technical” and highfalutin, while those who recklessly put out words are praised for being straightforward and relatable. However, it is often those outlets who sensationalize exaggeration who are the ones praised.

Probably another reason that Pagasa, the National Meteorological and Hydrological Services agency of the Philippines, can just be easily disregarded by people and their preemptive bulletins are reduced to “ay magbabago man lang ‘yung forecast bukas.” This aspect is critical, once more, to the general public preparedness and urgent action.

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐄𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

Filipinos are always challenged to discerning correctness from bluff, and this is an attribution of the poor education system. Moreover, was it mentioned that unlawful environmental abuse are the reasons for these weather aggravations? However, these are issues to be tackled in another time, with more calm discussions and more collected thoughts.

Still, education of the relevant and related terms is the key to genuine disaster risk reduction and management. Learning takes time and following the pages that lead to sound information are the gateways to optimal knowledge. In these critical times, wisdom and preemptive action should be done upon everyone.

Lastly, this is a plea to listen to accredited authorities and reliable sources. In the age of easy access to information, it is high time to suppress apprehension and be calm while discerning information. This comes in the combination with spreading only the correct and rightful facts, may it be in the form of sharing emergency hotlines and up-to-date updates, as well as rebuking false claims that overcomplicates the analysis of preparedness.