When the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) raises a typhoon wind signal for your province or city, the clock starts ticking. Knowing exactly what to do at each signal level — and doing it without delay — is the difference between a manageable inconvenience and a life-threatening situation.

Understanding the PAGASA Wind Signal Scale

PAGASA uses a five-level wind signal system that communicates the expected maximum wind speed and the time frame within which those winds will arrive. The scale was revised in 2015 to add Signal No. 5, reflecting the reality of supertyphoons like Yolanda (Haiyan).

Signal No. 1 — Stay Informed and Prepare

A Signal No. 1 advisory is your earliest warning. Winds are not yet dangerous, but the typhoon is tracking toward your area. Use this time wisely. Charge all mobile phones and power banks. Stock up on at least three days of food and clean drinking water — a minimum of three litres per person per day. Prepare your Go Bag (emergency kit) with copies of important documents, medicines, cash, a flashlight, and a battery-powered or hand-crank radio. Trim or remove branches that could fall on your roof. Identify your nearest evacuation centre and the safest route to reach it.

Signal No. 2 — Secure Your Home

At Signal No. 2, the typhoon is closing in. Bring all loose outdoor items — furniture, potted plants, signboards, and tools — inside or tie them down securely. Reinforce windows and doors with storm shutters or plywood. Fill bathtubs, buckets, and containers with water in case the supply is disrupted. If you live in a flood-prone area, move valuables and electrical appliances to higher floors. Keep your Go Bag by the door. Avoid unnecessary travel and stay away from rivers, estuaries, and the coastline.

Signal No. 3 — Prepare to Evacuate

Signal No. 3 means destructive winds are imminent. If your local government unit (LGU) has issued an evacuation order for your barangay, follow it immediately — do not wait to see how bad the storm gets. If you live in a sturdy concrete structure on high ground, you may shelter in place, but move to an interior room away from windows. Turn off the main electrical breaker to prevent fires from short circuits. Keep your radio on for official updates from PAGASA and your LGU. Do not go outside during the typhoon, even if there is a brief lull — this may be the eye of the storm passing, and the back wall of the eyewall brings equally violent winds.

Signal No. 4 and No. 5 — Evacuate Immediately

There is no safe option for staying in a vulnerable structure under Signal No. 4 or No. 5 conditions. Winds of 118 km/h and above can tear roofs off concrete houses, collapse walls, and turn debris into lethal projectiles. Storm surge — a wall of seawater pushed inland by the storm — is the leading cause of typhoon deaths in the Philippines and can arrive with little warning. If you are within a storm surge advisory zone, treat it as a mandatory evacuation order regardless of your signal level. Move to your designated evacuation centre or to the home of a relative on high ground before the winds intensify.

After the Typhoon Passes

Do not go outside until PAGASA officially lifts all wind signals and your LGU declares it safe. Floodwaters may still be rising even after the rain stops. Downed power lines, weakened trees, and debris-filled roads are serious hazards. Use bottled or boiled water only — floodwater contaminates wells and pipes. Report damage, injuries, and missing persons to your barangay captain or the nearest disaster risk reduction and management office (DRRMO). Document damage with photographs for insurance or government assistance claims.

Preparedness is not about fear — it is about giving yourself and your family the best possible chance when nature is at its most powerful. Start your preparations at Signal No. 1, and you will never be caught unprepared at Signal No. 4.