Get Your Home Ready Before the Rain Arrives
BOHOL - Don't wait until rain starts pouring to prepare your home. Secure loose outdoor furniture, gardening tools, lightweight roofing materials, and other objects that strong winds could carry away. Clear drains and gutters of leaves and rubbish so rainwater can flow more freely, and move important documents, electronics, medicines, and valuables to higher, dry areas if flooding is possible. Charge mobile phones and power banks while electricity is available, and keep flashlights, batteries, drinking water, ready-to-eat food, and a first-aid kit within easy reach. If your home is in a flood-prone or landslide-prone area, identify a safer place to go and prepare essential items in advance. A little preparation before the first raindrop can prevent a stressful scramble when conditions worsen.
Keep Your Family Safe When Thunderstorms Strike
When thunder roars, head indoors and stay away from open fields, hilltops, isolated trees, and exposed areas. Avoid swimming, boating, and other outdoor activities, and postpone unnecessary travel while lightning, heavy rain, or strong winds continue. Inside the house, stay away from windows during strong winds and avoid using electrical appliances connected to outlets during lightning activity. If flooding begins, never walk or drive through moving floodwater, as its depth and current can be deceptive. Watch for warning signs of landslides, including new ground cracks, leaning trees, unusual rumbling, or sudden changes in water flow. If authorities advise evacuation, leave promptly and follow their designated routes. Keep children, older adults, and people who may need assistance close to a trusted family member or caregiver.
Stay Alert and Follow Official Weather Advisories
Because thunderstorms can develop or move quickly, residents should treat the advisory as a prompt to prepare rather than assume the weather will remain the same. Monitor the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) and local government announcements for updated warnings, evacuation guidance, and information on road or community conditions. Keep family members informed, check on neighbors who may need assistance, and avoid sharing unverified weather reports. The best time to prepare for a storm is before it arrives—and staying informed is one of the simplest ways to help protect everyone at home.
