Prepare for storm, Cebu residents told

CEBU, Philippines —  Weather disturbance Odette has further intensified into a severe tropical storm as it entered the Philippine area of responsibility late yesterday, prompting government agencies to brace for its impact.

In Cebu, local authorities have outlined measures against the typhoon, reminding residents to be prepared for heavy rains and strong winds.

Cebu City Councilor David Tumulak told the city’s 80 barangays to prepare their rescue equipment. Tumulak, chairman of the City Council’s Committee on Disaster Risk Reduction and Management, also urged barangays to determine their evacuation areas.

“Amo sa’ng giawhag ang atong mga barangay officials nga unahon pagbakwit kining atong mga senior citizens, PWD (persons with disabilities), mga mabdos, mga bata, ug kining dunay mga balatian para sa ingon masiguro nato nga sila mahibutang lang daan sa atong mga evacuation center para luwas kini sila,” said Tumulak.

He encouraged the city residents to monitor the typhoon.

“Kami nag-awhag sa atoang mga Sugbuanon nga kanunay nga maminaw sa mga balita para sa ingon masayran usab ninyo ang atoang lakat sa panahon,” said Tumulak.

Mayor Michael Rama earlier urged residents to create their Family Disaster Preparedness Plan, saying every member should be aware of what to do when circumstances happen.

“Prepare ahead your emergency kit, pack in a bag your basic needs, secure your documents, make sure you save important emergency numbers, and your mobile phones fully charged before the storm would pass. Stock up but do not hoard,” said Rama.

“We don’t know if Bagyong Odette will knock out electricity and interrupt water distribution for some time. Thus, anticipate what you need to do ahead of time,” he added.

The city government is expected to prepare up to P100 million as standby fund for those affected by Typhoon Odette.

Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office officer-in-charge Ramil Ayuman said the council is expected to discuss and approve the fund this week.

A sendoff ceremony was also held yesterday for responders from CCDRMMO, barangays, Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine National Police and other government agencies.

 The disaster office also activated the city’s “Unified Communication System.”

 Ayuman said 286 CCDRMMO personnel and another 800 barangay responders have been prepared together with hundreds more from other government agencies. Heavy equipment is also on standby especially in landslide-prone areas.

City Police

The Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) now has its search and rescue (SAR) team on stand-by for the Typhoon Odette

Police Lt. Colonel Wilbert Parilla, Deputy City Director for Operations of CCPO said yesterday that they already inspected their equipment and their personnel in line with their preparation.

"So karong hapon, atong gi task-kingan especially ang CMFC especially nga ang focus sa bagyo is more on rainfall and kusog na pag ulan so expected na daghang maapektuhan sa kabukiran sa landslide and mga baha," said Parilla.

The SAR team will be on standby until the typhoon leaves the area of responsibility of the city.

Parilla also said the CMFC (Cebu City Mobile Force Company) is tasked to form a team that will assist the CDRRMO.

Members of the SAR team are police personnel trained to respond during calamities.

"Based on the report nga ang bagyo is more on heavy rainfall, so expected nato nga kusog ang ulan, atong kabukiran duna gyud na syay mga landslide,mao na atong gi focus-san atong mga landslide-prone areas," said Parilla.

Metro Cebu

The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said rivers and their tributaries particularly in Kotkot, Mananga, Guinabasan, Balamban and Sabangdaku in Metro Cebu are among the watercourses likely to be affected as light to occasionally moderate rains and thunderstorms are expected.

As of 6 p.m. yesterday, Odette was located at 1,000 kilometers East of Mindanao with maximum sustained winds of 100 kilometer per hour and gustiness of up to 125 kilometer per hour. Movement is West Northwestward at 25 kilometer per hour.

In Lapu-Lapu City, the City Council yesterday declared the city under “State of Preparedness.”

Nagiel Bañacia, head of the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRMMO), said that several residents in Barangay Caubian were already evacuated to Olango Island. The city also prepared the mini-Hoopsdome in the island as evacuation center.

Bañacia said families who acted as host of these evacuees will be given food and other assistance.

“All these host families will have to call us aron makahibalo mi sa ilang kahimtang then our people will provide them food assistance ug mga gamit,” Bañacia added.

Cebu Province

Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia urged the public especially those living in low-lying areas and coastal villages to do preemptive evacuation, as the typhoon is expected to bring more rains and possible storm surge.

“I would like to advise especially those that are situated in the southern part of the Province of Cebu to please stay alert, to be prepared and when the local government unit and the chief executive asks you to evacuate , those that are in the high risk low lying areas, please do so, without need of forcible evacuation. This is for your own good” governor Gwendolyn Garcia said.

Garcia met with the department heads of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office, Provincial Health Office and Provincial Engineering's Office yesterday to make sure the province is ready for the typhoon.

“Do all necessary preparations” told the heads of offices.

The province will make Samboan town the center of operations because of its "strategic point" for deployment.

The PDRRMO is now on blue alert status with all its personnel and equipment on standby.

Dr. Christina  Giango, the PHO chief, said all provincial and district hospitals are in “code white,” which means medical personnel are on standby.

Garcia also told Engr. Hector Jamora, the head of the engineering’s office, to have contractors assist the Capitol in case there’s a need for clearing operations.

The Cebu Contractors Association Inc. said it will lend support to the disaster response of the province.

Engr. Jigger Cañedo, in a letter to Garcia, said their “available manpower and equipment resources will be waiting for the provincial government unit’s disposal as the need arises”

The PSWDO, meanwhile, has already prepared food packs, kitchen and hygiene kits, blankets, mattresses, among others, for the evacuees.

The governor yesterday ordered all mayors to take all the necessary preparations, saying “suspension of work and other measures may be implemented by the local chief executive concerned, as the need arises.”

Situation

PAGASA Administrator Vicente Malano said Odette is expected to traverse the Visayas region.

“Itoy severe tropical storm sa ngayon. Kung maalala po natin noong 2011, ganitong panahon din yun si Sendong nanalasa doon sa Mindanao…At sa ngayon po ang tumbok po nitong si Rai (to be named Odette once it reaches PAR) ay doon sa lugar ng Northern portion ng Mindanao specifically siguro doon sa CARAGA or sa Northern tip of CARAGA or dito sa may Visayas. Tatahakin nya itong Eastern Visayas, Central Visayas, Western Visayas papunta po dito sa Palawan,” said Malano.

Odette, the 15th typhoon to hit the country this year, may reach 150 kph.

DOST-PAG-ASA’s senior weather specialist Chris Perez also said that based on their forecast, the typhoon will reach the coastal waters of Ronda, Cebu by Friday.

“Mapapansin sa ating forecast track na talagang inaasahang ito ay maglalandfall dito sa kalupaan ng ating bansa.Sa darating na Biyernes ay darating na siya dito sa may banda ng coastal waters ng Ronda Cebu at sa Sabado lalagpas sa landmass ng Palawan,” said Perez. — With Sanden J. Anadia, Iris Hazel Mascardo, Le Phyllis F. Antojado, Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon Caecent No-ot Magsumbol, LPM (FREEMAN)