Community Disaster Resilience: The Case of Typhoon Karen (Sarika) Affected Barangays in San Miguel, Bulacan

Abstract

The study focuses on the Local Government Units (LGUs) and the community resiliency or preparedness response taken before and during the typhoon, and the activities undertaken in the aftermath of Typhoon Karen of the most affected barangays of San Miguel, Bulacan, namely: Poblacion, Salacot, and San Jose. Interviews and surveys were conducted in order to determine their actions before, during, and after the typhoon. The qualitative data were analyzed using content analysis, while the quantitative data underwent statistical analysis of frequency, percentage, and multiple responses. Based on the findings, the municipal government and the three barangay governments were prepared and conducted the proper emergency responses in the case of Typhoon Karen. All the three barangays have their own information drive as its information system and systematic strategies of preparedness during and after the typhoon. This shows how important the role of the state is for any given community. In the disaster preparedness of the communities, results show that the communities have a high degree of self-awareness in terms of the ongoing situation. During disasters, survival mechanisms performed by the community were primarily to protect life, secure the minimal provision of food and other basic needs, and procure the safety of their residence and valuables. In the aftermath of the typhoon, most of the strategies done by the local people were less dependent on external assistance that hastened the process of going back to normal life after flooding had receded. The activities and programs of the LGUs in relation to the mitigation on the occurrence of floods tend to be insufficient to the needs of the majority. Protection of the people and ensuring their safety and survival have always been the role of every state.