“It looks dry, so flooding is off the table” is a common shortcut in Metro Manila. For parents managing a household, that shortcut is expensive.

This is a seasonal planning note, not an emergency alert. For the full guide set, start at El Niño on CheckHazard.

Tendency is not a guarantee

El Niño often raises the chance of below-normal rainfall. It does not delete tropical cyclones, local thunderstorms, or the geography of Metro Manila. dense housing, esteros, and shared water pressure.

What to screen at the pin

Open flood susceptibility, nearest waterways, and storm surge if you are near a coast. Ask about finished floor level versus the road. Walk the drainage path with your own eyes.

Use dry weeks to fix wet-week problems

Clear canals, check slope drains, and confirm pumps while the weather cooperates. That work is cheaper before the next hard rain, not after.

Checklist

1. Run the exact coordinates through a flood and waterway check.
2. Ask neighbors about the worst wet week, not only the dry months.
3. Photograph drainage outfalls and low corners of the lot.
4. Read Storms and floods still matter before you treat dry weather as clearance.

Guides to keep open

• el-nino/storms-and-floods
• el-nino/what-is-el-nino

Honest limits

CheckHazard explains public hazard layers and educational El Niño context. We do not replace PAGASA forecasts, LGU drought declarations, or a professional survey.

CheckHazard does not replace a professional geotechnical or engineering survey.