The SIMEX will be conducted at 2 p.m. on September 21.
Lyndon Ancajas, Head of the Administration and Training Division of the CDRRMO, said they five barangays were identified based on the city’s flood hazard map.
The barangays include Crossing Bayabas, Marapangi, Lisada, Lubogan, and Sirawan. These barangays are the ones who will be most affected should the Lipadas River overflow due to heavy rain in the highlands.
A flooding scenario caused by the overflowing of the Lipadas River will be simulated during the exercise.
Ancajas said that by 2 p.m. they will release an advisory that there are heavy rains in the uplands of the Lipadas River. Then at 2:10 pm, another advisory will be released that the water in the Lipadas River is in Code Orange, followed by a Code Red advisory at 2:20 p.m., and by 2:30 p.m. forced evacuation will be imposed.
“Atoa gyud main purpose ani is for the communities to learn, nga masabtan nila, makabalo sila unsaon pagpangandam ‘pag naa’y muabottay nga baha ug unsa ilahang buhaton inig baha na,” he explained in an interview with At Your Service over the city-owned Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR).
The city is already equipped with early warning systems, disaster response mechanism, ordinances for preemptive evacuation, and trained responders. The SIMEX will address the community's preparedness and cooperation during disasters.
Ancajas added that the SIMEX will help evaluate the community’s understanding of the city’s early warning system as well as to remind them on what to do before, during, and after a flooding incident.
The SIMEX will also help evaluate the city’s flood response capacity, as well as identify aspects that needs to be improved.
“Ang purpose sa SIMEX is we will also learn unsa’y bag-o nga strategy diri. Paghuman ana, magreview mi sa nahitabo then we will have an idea karon nga mao gyud ni ang best move or strategy,” Ancajas said.
The CDRRMO regularly conducts training, orientations, and seminars for disaster preparedness. Every year, starting in 2023, the CDRRMO has been implementing riverwide flood SIMEX every September.
Dabawenyos, especially those living in the identified barangays for the SIMEX, are urged to participate and cooperate with their respective barangay and the CDRRMO.
The CDRRMO also continues to remind Dabawenyos that disaster preparedness is a shared responsibility among the citizens. CIO