Prepared Before the Storm: How Communities in the Philippines Are Taking Action Before Disaster Strikes

When Typhoon Tino threatened the coastal communities of Tagbilaran City in the Philippines, residents were prepared.

Instead of waiting until the last minute to act, families prepared emergency supplies, community leaders activated response plans, and vulnerable residents were safely evacuated before conditions worsened. 

The response reflected a growing culture of preparedness fostered through the Strengthening Typhoon Anticipatory Action Response in Tagbilaran (STAART) trial project. This initiative falls under the CAPACities project, implemented by our partners CRS Philippines. 

Across Tagbilaran City, local leaders, organisations of persons with disabilities and community members have spent the past year building their knowledge of disaster preparedness and anticipatory action. Two major learning events held in July brought together hundreds of participants from across the province and city to share lessons learned and encourage wider adoption of approaches that help reduce risk before a typhoon or other weather events occurs.

One of the strongest champions of the approach is Joel, a barangay leader of a coastal community that participated in the project. During a recent visit, he shared how preparedness activities had transformed the way residents respond to approaching storms.

"In the past, we sometimes needed police assistance to convince people to evacuate," he recalled. "But this year, when Typhoon Tino approached, people came to us and asked, 'Do we evacuate now?'

For Joel, that simple question represented a significant shift in community behaviour.

Following a series of training sessions, residents learned how to prepare before a disaster occurs. Families packed emergency go-bags, secured fishing boats, trimmed potentially dangerous tree branches and prepared for possible evacuations. At the same time, barangay officials mobilised rescue and health teams, stocked emergency supplies and prepared evacuation facilities. Older people and people with disability were prioritised and transported early to safe locations.

When Typhoon Tino approached, more than 400 residents relocated to evacuation centres or stayed with relatives before conditions became dangerous. According to Joel, the response compared favourably with previous years, when officials often struggled to convince people to leave their homes. The project had helped build trust in early warnings and confidence in preparedness measures. 

"Now, nearly 95 percent of our seedlings survive," Mr Joel said proudly. "That is a huge improvement." 

The barangay team takes responsibility for maintaining the nursery, watering and cleaning it twice a week. Beyond the environmental benefits, the nursery has also created opportunities for income generation, as seedlings can occasionally be sold to support government mangrove planting initiatives. 

"We had 15 representatives of people with disabilities joining the Anticipatory Action learning event. This is great and gives us the opportunity to share learnings with other people who face challenges due to their disability," she said. 

The involvement of people with disabilities helped develop accessible information and awareness materials, including a video produced by the local Deaf Association, project communication materials, and identification markers that help ensure people with disabilities are recognised and prioritised during emergencies and evacuations. 

For many participants, the experience has also been personally transformative.

Lilly, a member of the organisation, reflected that before becoming involved, much of her life centred on caring for her family at home. Through the project, she gained new skills, confidence and opportunities to engage with her community.

"There was a lot of learning and awakening for me through the CAPACities and STAART project. I really enjoyed it and it reminded me that I have more to offer than being at home looking after my family, regardless of my disability."

Other participants described gaining valuable knowledge about disaster preparedness, community resilience and climate change. They spoke about sharing what they had learned with family members and others in their communities, helping spread awareness of the importance of acting early before disasters occur.

Their reflections were also shaped by lived experience. Some participants shared memories of Typhoon Odette and other disasters, recalling both the support they received during evacuations and the challenges many families continue to face during long-term recovery. These experiences reinforced the importance of preparedness and the need to ensure vulnerable people are not left behind. 

As climate-related disasters become more frequent and severe, the story emerging from Tagbilaran offers a hopeful vision for the future. Through local leadership, community participation and inclusive planning, people are gaining the knowledge, confidence and tools they need to protect themselves and one another.