When preparing for a disaster one of the most crucial thing to be implemented is the FLOOR PLAN hence the making of floor plan is highly recommended to figure out what countermeasures you have to take to lessen the risk and minimize the damage.

The objectives after reading this blog are the following:

-The readers are able to create a layout of their respective house.
-The readers are able to identify what are the hazards or the possible hazards around their respective house.
-The readers are able to think of a way to reduce the possible damage that the said hazards may cause

To achieve a Concrete Floor Plan there are certain conditions that must be met and questions that must be answered and those are the following

-The reasons that you consider the materials as a hazard .
-The legends that you used in your floor plan.
-A plan on how you can make your home hazard-free(Must be discussed with your parents/guardian for better conclusion).

The Steps of making a Concrete Floor Plan

First, you have to make a layout of your house by making use of editing application and/or software or by means of freehand drawing/sketch. Here we used an editing application when making a lay out as shown above. Links of some online editing sites will be transcribed at the lowest part of this blog.

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Second, you have to create legends that are used in your lay out and identify what are the hazards or the possible hazards.

And then, list out the reasons why you mark it as a hazard. As for the image above(IMG.2), the reasons why we mark the certain materials,devices and infrastructure found in the house(IMG.1) as a hazard is listed below.

1. Windows- Wooden, glass, or any structure of a window is hazardous. The glass window might break due to strong winds, strong force (things that might hit the window with great power for it to break, e.i. ball), and incorrect handling (especially when opening, closing, locking, and cleaning the window).
2. Wall- Made of Cement. Walls can keep you save however it can also be dangerous due to certain circumstances. For example, there is an earthquake going on and due to the force exerted the wall may break and fall on someone.
3. Doors- Heavy wooden, metal, and glass door can be hazardous to anyone. Although a door frame is one of the places to be safe during an earthquake due to its hard frame, a door may still be hazardous. A door’s force can even cut a finger thus, weak door hinges can be dangerous when a disaster occurs, and strong force may add to the disaster caused by the door.
4. Cabinets, Shelves, Drawers and Dividers- Hazardous substances and flammable objects are unavoidable for house purposes. For instance, these substances falls down unto the cabinets or dividers that may cause flammability, corrosion, and explosibility. The books from shelves, may hit someone when it falls down during earthquake. Not just the objects inside the cabinets/shelves/ dividers are dangerous, even the structure of it may also cause harm specially when they are not firmly installed and they might fall down during earthquake.
5. Gas range/Gas Stove- There are instances that the LPG tank is forgotten open, so, it is prone to fire hazards that may put the whole house and the whole family in danger.
6. Appliances(Fans, Refrigerator, Monitor and any Devices) and Electric Outlets- any electrical appliances can pose as a fire hazard if not properly maintained and handled. If an electric appliance has a cut through it’s own cord, it can expose potentially dangerous wires that could spark a fire. When an electric outlet contracts with water (or any liquid), the electric current reacts and it also causes a spark that may cause a fire.
7. Lights- Light bulbs and fluorescent bulbs contains “mercury”, which is a toxic heavy metal that can cause severe damage to vital organs. The lights may break and fall when applied with strong force, yielding structure of the ceiling, and accidental handling.

Finally, you have to discuss the plans or countermeasures you are going to take to reduce the hazard and make your home hazard free with anyone who you are living with . Which in our case, one of our authors discussed it with his/her parents and come up with a solution that every time they will use a gadget or appliances they must use it with utmost care and that they should practice and prepare what to do during a disaster and the things that they need during a disaster. for example, they have to do a drill, search from internet to gain knowledge and prepare supplies in case of emergency.

Make sure to implement your floor plan. Hope for the best however be prepared for the worst.

check out some online editing sites : https://www.roomsketcher.com/features/draw-floor-plans/, https://floorplanner.com/, https://www.smartdraw.com/floor-plan/draw-floor-plans.htm, https://floorplancreator.net/ and https://www.edrawsoft.com/floorplan/. However, some sites might require payment.