Survey Questions

1. Age *

2. Sex *

○ Male

○ Female

3. What is your primary news source? *

○ Local TV News

○ Local Radio

○ Newspaper

○ Cable News (CNN, BBC, Fox)

○ Facebook

○ I watch little/ no news

○ Other

4. If a catastrophe were to happen, what do you think it would be? *

□ A. Natural for instance a typhoon, tornado, or earthquake

□ B. Magnetic Polar Shift

□ C. Global Oil Crisis

□ D. Economic Meltdown

□ E. Giant Solar Flares

□ G. Blackout

□ H. Other

5. Some people believe that the world would end on December 21, 2012, as predicted by the popular ancient calendar of the Mayans. How likely or unlikely do you think that this prediction will be at least correct? *

○ A. Very likely

○ B. Likely

○ C. Somewhat likely

○ D. Very unlikely

○ E. Unlikely

○ F. Somewhat unlikely

6. If a devastating incident will happen, do you think that you are prepared? *

○ Yes

○ No

7. Among respondents who think, they are prepared; which of the following have you ever done to prepare for possible catastrophe?

□ A. Store canned or non-perishable food

□ B. Store drinking water

□ C. Learn basic survival skills, for example how to start a fire

□ D. Build a safe place

□ E. Grow own food like vegetables and fruits

□ F. Create own source of power

□ G. Other

8. Among respondents who think, they are NOT prepared; which of the following explain why you are not prepared for a possible catastrophe?

□ A. I cannot afford to buy and/or store particular supplies.

□ B. I don't know what to stock up.

□ C. I don't have time to do such preparation.

□ D. I don't believe that the end of the world will happen.

□ E. Other

9. If the calamities that you chose a while ago were to happen now, how will you address that situation that would benefit you in the short and long run? *

            

10. Now, if things are in your favor for you to prepare for such calamities, what would be your emergency plan? *

            

11. Do you agree that everyone can do a little bit to ensure their preparedness for a possible catastrophe? *

○ Yes

○ No

Survey Cover Letter

November 26, 2012



Dear Respondents:

I am an undergraduate student under the direction of Mr. Dustin Celestino in Asia Pacific College.  I am conducting a research study entitled Emergency Plans on Doomsday Scenarios.  The purpose of this study is to find out what can the Filipinos do to survive the worst case scenario.

Your participation will involve answering set of survey questions and should only take about 3 to 5 minutes.  Your involvement in the study is voluntary, and you may choose not to participate or to stop at any time.  The results of the research study may be published, but your name will not be used.  Your identity will not be associated with your responses in any published format.

The findings from this project will provide information on preparedness in different calamities with no cost to you other than the time it takes for the survey.

If you have any questions about this research project, please feel free to call me at (0915)849-0224 or send me an e-mail to jessaeleazar@apc.edu.ph.

Answering the questions earnestly would be highly appreciated for it would provide considerable information regarding my research paper.

Thanks for your consideration!


Sincerely,

Jessa Marie P. Eleazar
BS Accountancy, Asia Pacific College

HW1: Background of the Survey

After months of doing my research with regard to my topic, Doomsday, I have accomplished first part of my research paper which is the introduction part which is made up of background of the study, statement of the problem, significance of the study, scope and delimitation, and methods and material. I am done with the background of my study that has the findings and recommendations, observations, and the objectives.  Well, I guess my focus was here since this is the overview of the entire paper. And I must say that this is the critical part just like what our class' reference have said.
Having said that here are the main points I included: While we, Filipinos, are concerned on many things, people in America are prepping seriously for different doomsday scenarios. Moreover, the experts said the possible scenarios are namely: economic meltdown, solar flares, natural disasters, and biological warfare.
With those things considered, it led me next to my statement of the problem…what can we do to survive those events? Especially, we do not what may happen in the future. In simpler words, it is unpredictable.
With the calamities our nation has encountered, I believe that preparedness is significant.
Thus, being informed is significant in preparedness. 

After mentioning things I know, there are still things that I am not knowledgeable about. As a result, I do need to conduct a survey concerning my topic, the preparation of the Filipino people in any doomsday scenario.
Now, here are the questions prior to the things I still don't know: If a devastating incident will happen, do you think that you are prepared?This question is important because facts serve as support information. Therefore, by having these in my research paper would be a lot of aid on enriching it. Moreover, as I have research for Doomsday preparations in America, this particular question is in my mind.
What things have you ever done to prepare for possible catastrophe? (Among respondents who think, they are prepared) Why you are not prepared for a possible catastrophe? (Among respondents who think, they are not prepared) These are follow up questions. Thus, it is significant since my first question seems vague.
If a calamity would happen, what is your emergency plan?  This question would be a significant part of my research since I am to find out what would Filipinos would do in that kind of situation. I have watched how Americans prepare for different calamities that made me so curious. What if these preparations are localized. Would Filipinos do the same things?


I would definitely survey people from different stage of life. Probably, I would start from high school students up to the adults. Since, the concept of being prepared does not limit age. I guess, when it comes to calamities, more than anything else,  knowledge is really important.
For in those situations, there won't be "instant" tools anymore. Therefore, a person with information about survival would be useful.
However, if given a chance to have an interview with experts about survival and emergency planning, doing one must improve my paper.

Though, to formulate survey questions is sort of difficult and tricky.
Since every questions that is made should provide relevant information.
Because based on what I have noticed, there's this certain not-so-good attitude of Filipinos. I have observed that even if our country has undergone numerous catastrophe/disaster, most of us are still caught unprepared.
Since our country is not like "the first world" countries, I guess the finances might be the common reason why our society are not prepared.
However, aside of financial concern as the reason of being unprepared, people do a lot of "blaming.” Well, in fact, they should have known and done something somehow in preparation for it.
Remember...what is done is DONE.

HW 1 (Revised)

I. Overview of Research Paper

After months of doing my research with regard to my topic, Doomsday, I have accomplished first part of my research paper which is the introduction part which is made up of background of the study, statement of the problem, significance of the study, scope and delimitation, and methods and material. I am done with the background of my study that has the findings and recommendations, observations, and the objectives.  Well, I guess my focus was here since this is the overview of the entire paper. And I must say that this is the critical part just like what our class' reference have said.

Having said that here are the main points I included:
While we, Filipinos, are concerned on many things, people in America are prepping seriously for different doomsday scenarios. Moreover, the experts said the possible scenarios are namely: economic meltdown, solar flares, natural disasters, and biological warfare.

With those things considered, it led me next to my statement of the problem…what can we do to survive those events? Especially, we do not what may happen in the future. In simpler words, it is unpredictable.

With the calamities our nation has encountered, I believe that preparedness is significant.
Thus, being informed is significant in preparedness. 

II. Survey Questions

1. If a devastating incident will happen, do you think that you are prepared?

This question is important because facts serve as support information. Therefore, by having these in my research paper would be a lot of aid on enriching it. Moreover, as I have research for Doomsday preparations in America, this particular question is in my mind.

2. What things have you ever done to prepare for possible catastrophe? (Among respondents who think, they are prepared)

3. Why you are not prepared for a possible catastrophe? (Among respondents who think, they are not prepared)

Questions 2 and 3 are follow up questions. Thus, it is significant since my first question seems vague.

4. If a calamity would happen, what is your emergency plan? 

This question would be a significant part of my research since I am to find out what would Filipinos would do in that kind of situation. I have watched how Americans prepare for different calamities that made me so curious. What if these preparations are localized. Would Filipinos do the same things?

III. Prediction

I would definitely survey people from different stage of life. Probably, I would start from high school students up to the adults. Since, the concept of being prepared does not limit age. I guess, when it comes to calamities, more than anything else,  knowledge is really important.
For in those situations, there won't be "instant" tools anymore. Therefore, a person with information about survival would be useful.

Though, to formulate survey questions is sort of difficult and tricky.
Since every questions that is made should provide relevant information.
Because based on what I have noticed, there's this certain not-so-good attitude of Filipinos. I have observed that even if our country has undergone numerous catastrophe/disaster, most of us are still caught unprepared.
Since our country is not like "the first world" countries, I guess the finances might be the common reason why our society are not prepared.
However, aside of financial concern as the reason of being unprepared, people do a lot of "blaming.” Well, in fact, they should have known and done something somehow in preparation for it.
Remember...what is done is DONE.

Flashback...

I started going to school at the age of four, somewhere in Muntinlupa City. Actually, I went through nursery, kindergarten, and preparatory level.

Well, the odd part about these is whenever I tell these things to my new acquaintance; they tend to ask me questions.
Like..."Why a year late?"...

Well, what I normally tell them, “It is because the school that I went to does NOT accept kids that would be enrolled by their parents, or relatives in nursery level unless they are 4 years old. I don't know exactly why. Nevertheless, I suppose, it is the school policy.”

That is why even if my parents would love to send me to school earlier than 4 years old, they can't.

Well, just to make my story short and go straight to my point...
I am 17 years old...
since I started going to school at the age of four...
17 less than 4 is 13...

In my 13 years of schooling ...from nursery to high school level (given that I am on my second semester and that Asia Pacific College is a trimester school)... only this year...year  2012...I experienced to be in a place where flooding is evident.

I happened to be at a certain place in Makati City whereas just hours of continuous raining (even if it is not the harsh type), definitely would result in floods.
As I remember, the raining started around 4 or 5 P.M. here in Makati City.
Supposedly, I was about to go home on that time. However, our professor has extended our class and finished at around 6 P.M.
Actually, from 4 or 5 P.M. to 6 P.M., raining was continuous and incessant.

It was when the Southwest Monsoon, also known as Habagat, began to devastate us...

According to Wikipedia, Habagat lasted for 8 days that brought intense rains and thunderstorms from August 1 to August 8, 2012. Thus, it affected different places such as National Capital Region (NCR), some parts in Region IV-A and in Region III. The intense, nonstop rains caused Marikina River to overflow, and destroyed the same places that were ruined by Ondoy in 2009. Moreover, it also caused landslide in the Commonwealth Area, and caused the collapse of the Northbound side of the Marcos Highway. It is even said here that the total of casualties was 89 while 7 people are listed missing. In addition, in terms of damage, 8,428 homes were destroyed and another 6,706 were damaged. Even though it is not a typhoon, the damage it left was almost as massive as Typhoon Ketsana, also known as Ondoy.

Many people have suffered a lot. It ruined our society from the smallest units up to the biggest; from families to our society’s economy.
Watching these over the news, reminded me that these calamities that we experience are just the outcome of our actions. It is the end result of what we do. They might have lost someone...a person whom they care and love. They might have lost something...properties such as house, cars and etc. that they probably worked for.
People simply lost something or someone precious to them simple because we are not prepared.

Now, as I end my blog post, I will leave you this question...
If ever a calamity would hit our country  again, will you be prepared by then?

A Grid Down Scenario

B-R-O-W-N-O-U-T…

a time when you are in total hotness and/or total darkness…


Can you remember those times?

When you were watching your favorite T.V. show and suddenly the power goes down? When you were doing an important thing on the computer and it actually shut down? And when you actually blew the candle light as if it was your birthday?

Well…I do.

Actually, it lasts for couple of hours for MERALCO’s sudden failure of machines. However, when disaster strikes it can actually last for days or even weeks, that affects our way of lives.

Nowadays, electricity is inevitably important to all of us. Why? Just look around you. The answers are around you. From simple appliances and gadgets to communication and transportation, these are all run by electricity.

Nevertheless, what will it be if the power grid totally goes down?

According to The Preparedness Podcast, a “Grid Down” event or situation is an event where the power grid goes down.  In other words, a blackout.  Typically, Grid Down refers to a widespread event and one where the power isn’t expected to be quickly restored. A grid down scenario, then, would refer to any event that affects the ability to generate power on a wide basis.  Further, because the more serious of grid down scenarios involve very long period before the power would be restored, if ever, planning for it usually requires a combination of tactical and strategic planning.
Thus, this scenario was experienced in India.

 

According to Grid Insights, “ Reports of stranded passengers on trains, traffic lights no longer working, and electric crematoriums shutting down were only a small subset of the implications following recent power outages experienced at the end of July 2012 for almost 700 million Indian citizens.  I am referring to one of the world’s worst power blackouts that affected 20 of the 28 Indian states.  Almost three weeks after the failure of three of country’s five electricity grids, the government provided a report to investigate the cause of the failure.”

Imagine that?! This scenario paralyzed their country. It forced hospitals and airports onto backup power. Even some small businesses were forced to shut for the day. Buildings have no water because the pumps weren’t working, and the vaunted New Delhi Metro, with 1.8 million daily riders, was paralyzed during the busy morning commuted.

Now, if this would happen in our country, are we ready for this?

HW 1

I. Overview of Research Paper

After months of doing my research with regard to my topic, Doomsday, I have accomplished first part of my research paper which is the introduction part which is made up of background of the study, statement of the problem, significance of the study, scope and delimitation, and methods and material. I am done with the background of my study that has the findings and recommendations, observations, and the objectives.  Well, I guess my focus was here since this is the overview of the entire paper. And I must say that this is the critical part just like what our class' reference have said.

Having said that here are the main points I included:
While we, Filipinos, are concerned on many things, people in America are prepping seriously for different doomsday scenarios. Moreover, the experts said the possible scenarios are namely: economic meltdown, solar flares, natural disasters, and biological warfare.

With those things considered, it led me next to my statement of the problem…what can we do to survive those events? Especially, we do not what may happen in the future. In simpler words, it is unpredictable.

With the calamities our nation has encountered, I believe that preparedness is significant.
Thus, being informed is significant in preparedness.  

II. Survey Questions

1. If a catastrophe were to happen, what do you think it would be?
A. Natural for instance a typhoon, tornado, or earthquake
B. Magnetic Polar Shift
C. Global Oil Crisis
D. Economic Meltdown
E. Giant Solar Flares
F. Biological Warfare
G. Blackout
H. Other

I decided to place this question in my survey questions to help me create my paper. Also,for me to know what are the calamities most likely people in our country consider.

2. Some people believe that the world would end on December 21, 2012, as predicted by the popular ancient calendar of the Mayans. How likely or unlikely do you think that this prediction will be at least correct?
A. Very likely
B. Likely
C. Somewhat likely
D. Very unlikely
E. Unlikely
F. Somewhat unlikely

As I have observed for the past years, there are enormous predictions about the end of the world that has actually started long ago. Hence, I want to know if people do still believe in it. Thus, I add in this question to find out whether believing in it or not is somewhat related on whether to prepare for it or not.
 
3. If a devastating incident will happen, do you think that you are prepared?

Facts serve as a support information. Therefore, by having these in my research paper would be a lot of aid on enriching it.

4. Which of the following have you ever done to prepare for possible catastrophe? (Among respondents who think, they are prepared)
A. Store canned or non-perishable food
B. Store drinking water
C. Learn basic survival skills, for example how to start a fire
D. Build a safe place
E. Grow own food like vegetables and fruits
F. Create own source of power
G. Other

5. Which of the following explain why you are not prepared for a possible catastrophe? (Among respondents who think, they are not prepared)
A. I cannot afford to buy and/or store particular supplies.
B. I don't know what to stock up.
C. I don't have time to do such preparation.
D. I don't believe that the end of the world will happen.
E. Other

Numbers 4 and 5 are basically follow up questions for no. 3. Therefore, this would explain why people are prepared or not.

III. Prediction

To formulate survey questions is sort of difficult and tricky.
Since every questions that is made should provide relevant information.
Thus, based on what I have noticed, there's this certain not-so-good attitude of Filipinos. I have observed that even if our country has undergone numerous catastrophe/disaster, most of us are still caught unprepared.
Since our country is not like "the third world" countries, I guess the finances might be the common reason why our society are not prepared.
However, aside of financial concern as the reason of being unprepared, people do a lot of "blaming.” Well, in fact, they should have known and done something somehow in preparation for it.
Remember...what is done is DONE.