Tips on How to survive from Tsunami and Flash Flood

               I noticed that there is no body gives us tips on how to survive on the currents of flood, since Philippines is a country. Last night, as I watched the News, I saw a woman swept away from the flood in Isabela. I think of myself, in my personal evaluation she has a very slim chances of surviving on the water based on how she position herself. Therefore, I am passionate to share my personal experiences on how I survived on different hydro currents. I was able to cross with about 200 meters distance with one-meter high waves, with extra ordinary under current when I was about four year old. This experienced made me a swimming champion in our place, and I was able also to rescue my neighbor drown in the water; it was a life and death situation. That’s what made me a “hero” in our place during my childhood days, probably about six year old? Since then, I had no fear in waters, even if it is flood or high waves. I love water sports until today; most of my childhood days were spent in the sea and rivers, this is the reason I am dark in complexion. I grew up as fisherman in an open sea, and my job was to dive without any floater for at least one hour away from the boat. I was expert in adjusting and positioning myself in high current waves, especially if there is a down drag current. Every time, there was flood in our place, some kids will go in hiding, but not me. I have to get out and do some scavenging for firewood and for animal feeds like coconuts, vegetables that float in the river. This habit enables me to develop a technique in crossing rivers with fatal current just to save some coconuts and firewood. We even made this type of crossing in the river as sports, and undermining the currents. I was also a survivor in floating in an open sea for a few days with no food and water, which most of the fishermen will experience this. Swimming techniques and survival skills is very important in this type of circumstances. This technique made me also a four times champion in swimming back in my college days in the University I attended. I guess, this technique has not been introduced yet in SOLAS yet as a flood surviving technic, but only in surviving seawater. This technique can be also very useful in incase of tsunami, however, this does not guarantee full assurance since tsunami has various elements that you need to consider. River is quite different in characteristics compare on seawater and Tsunami when it comes to current behavior. The Tsunami and flash flood with muds and sharp/heavy objects will kill you. It is difficult to float on the muddy flood. However, if you will know this technic, there is a great chance of surviving this kind of flood. Assuming the flood occurs and you were drag to the Rivers that is 5 to 10 kilometers away from the sea. Before the flood occurs, this what to do.

1.                    Get the basic education of swimming; learn on how to paddle using your hands and legs. Learn also the paddling technics with your legs while your hands holds to a floater. If incase you do not know how to swim, then get a floater and tie yourself in the floater or anything that float and do not do anything, don’t panic and do not try to swim, just hold on to your floater until someone will rescue you. I will explain it later why, but to those who know how to swim, this how you will survive and also able to rescue others.  

2.                     Granted that you know a basic swimming technics. You must identify the direction of the current. The basic characteristic of flood, current has only one direction. Do not panic but relax and reserve your energy. Get a floater and tied yourself and tied also the others to the floaters.

3.                    Avoid yourself and the others being entangled to stable and immovable objects like posts, trees, iron bars etc, rather keep yourselves float along with the current. Our survival instinct is to hold on the immovable objects, this is very dangerous; not unless you can handle to keep yourself out from flood current and if that object can hold you until the rescuers come. However, let yourself or float along with the current.

4.                     Do not swim against the current, this will make you exhausted and make you paralyzed and immovable and die not because of flood but of exhaustion. This is what you do, stay in the deep area not in a shallow area. Again our instinct to survive is to swim to the shallow water, but the current in the shallow sometimes are crazy and grumbling like washing machine, and you might get injuries.

5.                    You must to avoid shallow waters or any in the area that the water is moving like boiling the water on the pot, this will definitely kill you.

6.                    Keep yourself float on the water like logs, so gather many floaters as you can hold with minimal effort, and tied floaters on your feet if you can.

7.                    Do not be afraid if you gone too far from your place, as long as you keep yourself float then there is a big chances you will survive. This technique, “floating yourself including your feet” will keep you safe incase there is another current that will drag you down under water.  Most of the time, this will happened if there is a garbage trap, dam, bridge or if you will go down to the falls. This is my basic advice if you will be approaching to any of these; first try to identify if that is dam, falls, and bridge or garbage trap. Second, if you know that you will fall to one of this area then try to avoid these, later I explain how. Third, if you will fall into dam without choice, then be sure you will not get injuries; usually the current here is dragging you down, help yourself back afloat. Again, do not try to swim when you already floating on water, reserve your energy. If you fall into the garbage trap, this is quite deceiving this area the water almost doesn’t move because of the garbage. Therefore, if you can find anything that will keep you float and stable then save your self, crawl over the garbage. However, there is a weak spot, that the current will double or triple its speed, keep your feet float together with your body, because the current under water is triple in its speed.

8.                    Crawling over to the floating garbage is the best way for you to scape this flood.

9.                    Do not try to stand, just float horizontally with the garbage until rescuers come. If you are approaching the bridge, try to identify if the bridge is under water, or the water is leveled on the floor if you cannot find anything that trapped. I’ve seen from the news people who tried scape the flood as they were approaching the Montalban Bridge during typhon Ondoy, obviously they do not know what to do. I’ve seen them helpless, however, if they know the technic then they might get save. The most fatal error they did, was just standing on the roof of the floating house while the flood along Marikina River dragged it. This is what to do, tying yourself to a floaters will keep you float wherever you will go. If you cross under the bridge, remember these three important things to do, never let the floater go from you, hold your breath, and keep your self entangle from any stable objects. Usually it takes less than a minute to cross the bridge under water. However, if you cross under the bridge with floater is quit dangerous specially if the bridge has corners, because this will trap you. Incase your floater trapped into this type of corner; just drag the floater downward, if you can’t, let go off some floaters. I would say (2 pieces) 2 litters drinking bottle, as floater tied together is easy to manipulate.

10.                Do not use life vest as floaters, for me this is not safe. There are many disadvantages of the using the life vest as floater, this kind of floater easy to get entangle and it will expire its buoyancy after a few hours. If you use air type life vest, once it pierced then good-bye life vest. However, floating wood, branches or drinking bottles or empty gallon not more than four litters per person is easy to control and manipulate. Another technic in crossing under the bridge is take a maneuver and swim toward the shallow water before you arrived in the bridge. Remember always, do not try stand even if the water is shallow, always crawl until you reach in the area that the water is not moving. Most of the time, the current nearby the bridge tends to slow down a little bit, each side is safe to land, so therefore if you can paddle towards the shallow area, then swim as fast as you can.

     

         You might wonder why I advice you to keep yourself afloat and reserve your energies, it is because the best way to survive is to float on water until the rescue arrive. In the typhoon Sendong that hits Cagayan de Oro, Iligan and Dumaguete in 2011, many of the survivors that were rescued were those who floated on the seawaters between Dipolog, Camiguin and Bohol Sea. That is why, I have advice you to reserve your energy and keep yourself float because this is the only best way that you will survive. If you can reach to the seawater from the river, then it has a big chances of getting survive.  However, there are many chances that you might not survive in the sea if you don know the basic survival on the sea. (One thing that you will never do in seawater is not to drink the salt water, this will dehydrate you). You can drink fresh waters but not the salt water, I will explain later how. Keep yourselves away from the huge floating items; snakes and other animals that were flashed out might also in that area. Eat what are edible even leaves of any fruits or trees or whatever living insects nearby, or eat the rotten logs. If it is still raining open your mouth for you to drink, and gather fresh water from the rain if you can. Do not forget to sleep and exercise your body while floating on the water. If possible you can transfer to a bigger floater, then go ahead but do not let go from your body the floater that keeps you float from the river. If incase snakes and other animal invade the big floater then it is easy to keep away from them.

         I also advice you not to swim against the current but rather go along with the direction of the current it is because its less in effort in swimming and it will guarantee you will arrive into your desired place you wish to go. Assuming that you are in the midst of the river with a high speed current rushing; all you have to do is to go along with it and slowly paddle toward the side of the river diagonally. Before doing this, find the spot that the water is running but not grumbling. Grumbled water is dangerous, swim today the side of the river that the spot is peaceful. Then, upon arrival to the area, check the type of structure you are going to hold if it is strong enough to hold you. If you can find a structure that is immoveable then hung on to that structure until the rescue comes. This time, ask water before you will be taken out of the water. (Rescuers always bring drinking water) If you stay in the water for more than twenty-four hours, you cannot stand by yourself so therefore just lie down. Don’t attempt to stand until you will regain strength for your feet to stand. Whatever circumstance, whether in the sea, tsunami or floodwater this is how you will survive; keep yourself float to the water horizontally, not vertically. The current under water is double and fatal, so float like logs and go along the with the current. You save yourself from going to the sea if you swing along the current, and swim diagonally towards the shallow not moving area. The most important things, before everything is pray. You might panic and forget this technic, but pray first, and call the Name Jesus, and he will remind you. God bless.

Disclaimer: These advices assumed that the incident might happen in Major River like, Cagayan de Oro city River, Pasig River, and on the sea, this applicable. If the incident occurs in the creeks, floodway or under river tunnel, then this might not be applicable. The best things are to avoid this area.  If cannot be avoided, float like logs always, wherever you are.

Tagalog version

1.    Mag-aral ng, basi swimming lesson; sapat na ang matutunan kung paano ka lumutang at mak languy na hawak ang pampalutang.

2.    Seguraduhing may pampalutang (maghanda palagi ng dalawang nakatali na basyo ng drinking water, gallon o kahoy na pwedeng kapitan at ‘wag na h’wag kang bibitiw nito, maaring itali mo ito sa iyong kamay, huwag sa katawan.

3.    Huwag mag panic, at panatilihing relax ang katawan, maka dagdag sa bugat at lalung mabilis lumubog sa tubig ang isang tensyunadong katawan.

4.    Panatilihing hindi mapagod, huwag lumangoy at iwasan ang mag karoon ng injuries sa katawan o sa paa at kamay.

5.    Iwasang sumabit sa ano mang bagay na hindi inaanod. Ito po dilikado, maaring ikaw ay ma bogbog sa mga kahoy o matitigas at matutulis na bagay na ika dudulot ng iyung agarang pagkamatay.

6.    Hayang sundan at magpalutang-lutang sa daluy ng tubig at bawal lumangoy salungat sa daluy ng tubig. Panatilihing nakalutang ang sarili at relax.

7.     Bawal kumapit sa ano mang bagay na hindi ina-anod kung ikaw ay nasa kalagitnaan ng mabilis na na daluy ng tubig. Kadalasan ng ini-isip ng tao para maligtas ay kumapit sa hindi ina-anod, lalo na sa hindi marunong lumangoy; ito ay napaka dilikadong desisyu. Kasi, maaring ikaw ay banga-in ng mga matitigas o matutulis na bagay habang sinusubukan mong e ahon ang sarili. Maari ding ang bagay na itung kapitan ay pweding anurin at maari ding ito ay may mga nakatirang hayop katulad ng ahas at iba pa.

8.    Huwag din tumungtong sa mga structure na ina-anod tulad ng bahay, tulay o mga sasakyan, hindi garatisado na ito ay lulutang ng matagalan. Sasabog po  ‘to pag bumanga sa tulay o sa ano mang haharang nito, maaring maka injury po kayo. Tulad nung mga tao na napanood sa balita sa tv nung kasagsagan ng Ondoy, isang maling desisyun ang magpalutang-lutang na naka tungtong sa bahay na ina-nod. Nung ito ay sumuong sa ilalim ng tulay, lahat po sila ay nalunod. Maari sana silang naligtas ang sarili kung sila ay kumapit sa maliit na pampalutang. Napansin ko ang mga basura nakatambak sa gilid ng tulay habang sila ay palapit sa tulay. Kung ang hawak nila ay mga maliliit na pampalutang, mabilis lang sanang gumapang sa ibabaw ng basura at iligtas ang kanikanilang mga sarili, habang naghihintay ang mga rescuers sa gilid ng tulay.

9.    Hayang duloy ka hanggang anurin sa dagat, panatilihing naka luting ang sarili. Huwag subukang lumangoy kung sakali ikaw ay inanod na sa gitna ng dagat.

10. Umiwas sa mga nag kumpolang mga bagay-bayg na ina-anod, ito ay maaring tirahan nang mga hayop na kadalasan ina-anod ng baha at maaring ang nangunguna dun na tumira ay ang cobra ta daga.

11.Kung hindi maiwasang sumuong sa ilalim ng tulay, seguraduhing hindi ka sasabit sa ano mag bagay sa gitna ng tulay, at ihanda ang sarili at pigilan pansamantala ang pag hinga habang ikaw ay susu-ong sa ilalim ng tulay, ito po ay saglit lamang wala pang isang minute pag hindi po kayo sasabit.

Paano mag survive  pag ang isang Biktima ay inanod   sa Dagat

1.    Bawal uminom ng tubig sa dagat, ito po ay nakaka dehydrate, maaring ikaw ay mamatay sa dehydration. Uminom ng tubig ulan or tubig baha kung ito ay hindi ma putik. Mag ipon ng tubig ulan, gamitin ang iyong damit, ipatung sa iyong ulo na hindi aabutan ng dagat habang ito ay babasain ng ulan. Kung ito’y basing basa na, pigaan, muna ng maalis ang alat, at hayaang mabasa ulit sa ulan, sa pagkakataong ito pwede na inumin ang tubig sa damit.  Buksan ang iyong bibig para tubig ulan.

2.    Kumain ng anomang bagay, hayop o insekto na pwedeng kainin. At mag hintay sa rescuers.

3.    Aliwin ang sarili at bawal mag isip ng may lalamon sa iyo na malaking isda.

4.    Wag kalimutan mag exercise at igalaw-galaw ang katawan, paa at kamay.

5.    Kailangan mag vocalize palagi, para hindi ka mawalan ng boses kung sa kali kinanakailangan mo mag salita. Pwedeng kausapin nyo ang iyong sarili pag saka-sakali wala po kayong kasama.

6.    Iwasan ang nag kopulang mga bagay na lumulutang, maaring andun ang mga ahas at iba pang hayop.

7.    Huwag matakot kung ikaw ay lalapitan ng isda, tulad ng whale o maliit na isda, ito ay sisilung lamang.

8.    Kung kinakailangang matulog, seguraduhing hindi mabibitawan ang pampalutang. Mas maganda kung ikaw ay nasa dagat, humanap ka ng malaking papalutang na pweding patungan. Ngunit hwag itapon ang maliit na pampalutang na hawak mo nung ikaw pa ay nasa ilog. Magagamit ito kung sakali ang bagay na papatungan mo ay inaagaw ng mga hayop, lumayo kana sa kanila. Ang mga hayop ay may pagka teritoryal, ito ay mangangat o manunuklaw.

9.    Kung ikaw ay taga manila, huwag mag alala kung ikaw ay aanurin sa dagat, maraming Bangka at barko na pwedeng makakakita sa iyo, ngunit napaka delekado kng ikaw ay mapapunta sa mababaw na parte ng dagat.. Maaring hapasin ka ng malakas na alon at maipit sa mga waves barrier. Umiwas ka sa mga lugar na ito, lumangoy ka palayo.

10.Sa mga taga probinsya, umiwas sa mga mababatong lugar, ang hapas ng alon sa mga mababatong lugar ay nakaka matay. Mas mainam kung ikaw ay dalhin sa malalim na parte ng dagay na malayo ng bahagya sa dalampasigan, habang malalakas pa ang alon.

Sa mga rescuer, o magiging sapilitan rescuers ng kanilang mga immediate family. Kung ang iyong tirahan ay aabotin ng baha, mag handa ng mga gallon o mga basyo ng miniral waters na may tali. Bawat isa ay kinakailangang magkaroon sila nito, at ituro itong technic na ito. Huwag kalimutang manalanging, ito ay pin aka importante sa lahat. Tawagin ang pangalan ni Hesus and he will remind you this technic.

Authored and Written by: Rev. Jesse Amiel A. Ramoso

picture source: http://www.thenews.com.pk/article-28859-Philippine-flood-death-toll-rises-to-521