- MITCH M. LIPA
The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council placed Negros Occidental under the Red Alert status in a meeting yesterday since the province is considered a high risk area for tropical storm “Odette”.
The highest alert level was raised in preparation for “Odette”. Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson already issued an advisory for local government units to be ready for the coming storm.
PDRRMO head Zeaphard Caelian said the weather disturbance entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility Tuesday morning and has gained strength, with maximum sustained winds of 95 km/h near the center, gustiness of up to 115 km/h, and central pressure of 990 hPa, as of the 11 a.m. bulletin of the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration.
Negros Island is along the path of “Odette” crossing the Visayas region.
As such, the PDRRMO especially alerted the 62 barangays with very high possibility of landslide and those prone to flashfloods.
Areas prone to landslide include five barangays in Don Salvador Benedicto, four each in Manapla and Silay City, three each in Victorias City, Ilog, and Kabankalan, and two in EB Magalona.
Local government units with high chances of flashfloods are Kabankalan and Ilog since most of their barangays are identified as prone to inundations, Himamaylan City in the south, and Manapla, Silay, Talisay, Cadiz, and Sagay in the north that also experienced flashfloods early this year.
The PAGASA forecast showed that “Odette” may develop into a typhoon category as it nears the land mass in Mindanao, Caelian said. It is expected to traverse Cebu Island to Negros Oriental and Occidental late Wednesday evening or Thursday, based on satellite imagery, as of Tuesday noon.
Caelian added that since the threat is very imminent, the proactive measures of all city and municipal DRRMOs must be heightened. He reminded all local disaster teams to review mitigating plans, and identify possible risks in their areas of responsibility as early as possible.
The LGUs should also prepare the operational plan and management of evacuation centers. They are reminded that COVID-19 is still around so they have to consider the health protocols in the emergency plan that they will devise.
Caelian said LGUs should set up a triage area at the entry to an evacuation center where evacuees can present their vaccination cards before they are allowed inside the evacuation area, and subjected to noncontact temperature checks.
An isolation area must also be established in every evacuation center, with a washing station and sanitizers. Physical distancing should be observed in the installation of emergency tents and barriers in schools that will be used as evacuation centers.
Caelian said prayer is also very important aside from readiness, and residents are urged to cooperate with their LGUs. — MML
