Typhoon season: an expat's preparedness checklist
Typhoon season runs June to November. This is the practical checklist I wish someone had handed me before my first Signal No. 3 in Cebu.
Community article, editorially reviewed. Opinions are the author's, not ArchipelagoExpat's.
Typhoons are a fact of life in the Philippines. The trick is preparation, not panic.
The basics
Keep a go-bag: passports, ACR I-Card photocopies, cash, a power bank, a torch, water, and a basic first-aid kit.
Utilities and comms
Expect power and internet interruptions. Download offline maps. A battery or hand-crank radio helps when cell networks drop.
During the storm
Stay indoors. Avoid windows. Charge everything before landfall. Check PAGASA for official signal updates — local word of mouth is fast but sometimes alarmist.
James Whitfield
TrustedBritish expat in Cebu since 2017. Retired, writes about visas and driving.
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