Renting

Because the cost of renting is low, I chose to rent a place in a rural area on the outskirts of the city.

However, certain problems are now starting to surface.

Specifically, there are spiders, various bugs, mosquitoes, centipedes—and potentially even snakes.

These issues weren’t quite as noticeable during the winter, but now that it’s summer, all sorts of creepy-crawlies are crawling right onto my bed.

I’ve already had one encounter where a centipede crawled onto my body while I was lying in bed; it was about the length of my index finger.

Just today, while I was sleeping, a spider crawled across my chest; it was about the size of my thumbnail.

These are all highly venomous creatures; if you get bitten, you’re looking at either a trip to the ICU or instant death on the spot. It’s truly terrifying, and so far, I haven’t found an effective solution.

Even if I keep my own living space spotless, the fact that the exterior—including the courtyard and the kitchen passageway—belongs to someone else means that other creatures can still constantly find their way inside, including (but not limited to) snakes—specifically venomous ones.

The best course of action would be to move; the second-best would be to get a cat. However, cats can sometimes suddenly go berserk and scratch people, which presents another kind of danger. Therefore, I’m considering moving into the city center, which might be a better option—at the very least, it would eliminate the risk posed by venomous snakes.

On the other hand, high-rise buildings in the city center come with their own fire hazards. If a fire breaks out, it’s incredibly difficult to escape; you essentially have to entrust your safety to the floors below you—something you simply cannot gamble on. Furthermore, there have been frequent earthquakes lately, and escaping from a high-rise during a quake is practically impossible. In a rural bungalow, however, during a minor tremor, you can immediately run outside and stand in the middle of the road; in a worst-case scenario, you won’t end up crushed beneath an entire high-rise building. In a bungalow, as long as you manage to protect yourself during the initial impact, the chances of being rescued remain quite high.

Just a few days ago, I was still agonizing over the utility rates—specifically the lack of “residential-tier” water and electricity pricing. Although my rent is cheap, the electricity isn’t; if I turn on the air conditioning, the electricity bill ends up costing even more than the rent itself. Moreover, while the rent is a fixed cost, the electricity bill operates on a tiered system: the more electricity you consume, the higher the rate you have to pay. I’ve asked dozens of landlords in the area, and they all charge roughly the same electricity rates—some are even more expensive (up to a third higher), making it even more unaffordable.

At this point, the only viable solution to the electricity cost problem is to buy my own home; that is the only way to qualify for true “residential-tier” utility rates—and secure the lowest possible electricity prices.

Earthquakes

This is a flat plain region where earthquakes typically never occur; however, last month, we experienced a continuous series of minor tremors for a whole week.

This serves as a warning sign. Earthquakes on the plains tend to be an all-or-nothing affair: either they don’t happen at all, or they strike as massive, catastrophic events. Given that other provinces have already begun experiencing magnitude 5 earthquakes, we here must also start considering various safety measures for when a quake eventually hits.

Currently, the only safety measures I have implemented are those against fire: I’ve purchased a small fire extinguisher, as well as candles and matches (to cope with potential power outages). Beyond that, I haven’t done anything else.

Heavy Rain

A torrential downpour began last night. Whenever heavy rain strikes, the city inevitably suffers from severe flooding. It’s a damn incompetent government—they collect taxes every single year, yet every single year, the city ends up submerged by the rain just the same.

We are currently under a “Red Alert” for heavy rain. Such downpours constitute a natural disaster; the resulting urban flooding paralyzes traffic, making it impossible to venture out to buy food. In some residential complexes, underground parking garages have been completely submerged—if anyone happens to be inside when that happens, their lives are in grave danger.

Heavy rain also causes leaks in poorly constructed buildings, leading to indoor flooding. This creates a risk of electrocution and severely disrupts daily life. In some areas, floodwaters have risen high enough to submerge the first and second floors of buildings, necessitating a complete evacuation where residents must rely on yachts and boats to be rescued.

I am currently staying indoors; due to the heavy rain, I am minimizing my time spent outside.

Last night, I moved all the electrical appliances located near my front door to prevent them from getting wet—a precaution against electrocution or short circuits that could spark a fire. (As a result, my front-door security camera is temporarily out of commission.)

I strongly recommend preparing a pair of rain boots—specifically, knee-high boots—when heavy rain is forecast, as they can prevent you from stepping into deep floodwaters.

You should also prepare a probing stick—such as a hiking pole or similar object—to feel your way ahead. Heavy rains often cause manhole covers to shift out of place as water rushes into the underground sewer system; since the displaced covers are invisible beneath the murky water, one could easily fall into a sewer and lose their life if they aren’t careful.

Furthermore, heavy rain can cause power lines to short-circuit. If you are walking through floodwaters, you run the risk of being electrocuted—a shock that can prove instantly fatal.

Every time I witness a heavy downpour, I inevitably hear reports of people falling into open manholes or of pedestrians wading through the water being electrocuted by live power lines in their vicinity.

Weather Forecasts

Although weather forecasts are not always perfectly accurate, they tend to be relatively reliable when it comes to predicting disaster-level events.

Therefore, it is essential to check the weather forecast constantly—to know when it will rain, when strong winds are expected, or when the skies will clear. This information dictates your decisions regarding laundry, commuting, clothing choices, and sun protection.

Additionally, be sure to enable disaster alerts on your mobile device. On my Android phone, for instance, I have enabled these alerts; whenever an earthquake occurs, the phone notifies me of how soon the seismic waves are expected to arrive. The system also provides warnings for heavy rain, strong winds, extreme heat, and other conditions; currently, alerts are issued for various forms of extreme weather, such as torrential downpours and heatwaves.

Extreme weather conditions can also lead to the suspension of train and flight services, and may even make it impossible to hail a taxi on the street. Consequently, upon receiving a weather alert, you must promptly adjust your plans and make necessary arrangements.

Summary

You should download a weather forecast app and monitor it continuously.

You should enable disaster alerts on your mobile phone (if available), including warnings for earthquakes, heavy rain, extreme heat, and other hazards.

You should prepare a personal supply of appropriate emergency supplies, such as raincoats, rain boots, umbrellas, walking sticks, fire extinguishers, gas masks, window-breaking hammers, escape ropes, life jackets, compressed biscuits, and so on.

You should take measures to clear out and protect against pests and wildlife—such as snakes, centipedes, and spiders. This involves cleaning your living space regularly to keep the room tidy and hygienic, performing periodic pest control, spraying insecticides, and utilizing physical deterrents (such as aromatic oils, activated charcoal, or lemon slices) to repel mosquitoes and insects. For specific methods, please consult relevant reference materials. Furthermore, you should install curtains and window screens to prevent outdoor creatures from entering your home.