(UPDATED: 1:00 p.m.) —- Several provinces in the Visayas and Mindanao are now under Public Storm Warning Signal No. 1 due to Typhoon Ruby.
Weather bureau PAGASA says heavy rains and gusty winds as well as rough seas are expected in Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar, Biliran, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Surigao del Norte, Siargao Island, Surigao del Sur, and Dinagat Province within the next 36 hours.
Alert levels have also been raised in many Philippine provinces on and around the typhoon’s path. The typhoon, last estimated 860 kilometers East of Surigao City, has intensified further and is now bearing maximum sustained winds of 195 kph with gustiness of 230 kph.
PAGASA says, it may still intensify as it moves west northwest at 20 kilometers per hour. PAGASA adds, it is still possible that Ruby may recurve to the northeast, but most forecast models point to the typhoon making a direct hit in Eastern Visayas, possibly in the Samar area, Saturday morning.
AREAS UNDER PUBLIC STORM WARNING SIGNAL NO. 1
Northern Samar
Eastern Samar
Samar
Biliran
Leyte
Southern Leyte
Surigao del Norte
Siargao Island
Surigao del Sur
Dinagat Province
The following areas have suspended classes in all levels:
DECEMBER 4-5
NORTHERN SAMAR
LEYTE
SOUTHERN LEYTE
CATBALOGAN, SAMAR
BILIRAN PROVINCE
TACLOBAN CITY
DECEMBER 5
CEBU
CULABA, BILIRAN
The following schools, colleges, and universities have also announced the suspension of classes:
-University of the Philippines Visayas (Tacloban) (Classes to resume December 11)
-Visayas State University (December 4 to 5)
LANDFALL OR RECURVE?
The Hawaii-based Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) of the US Navy has categorized tropical cyclone ”Hagupit” into a super typhoon.
The JTWC said both models provided by the Coupled Ocean/Atmosphere Mesoscale Prediction System (COAMPS) and Global Forecast System (GFS) have been consistently showing Hagupit moving upward due to the weakening of the high pressure system.
The US weather bureau, however, said another model provided by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMF) shows Hagupit continuing its westward track into central Philippines, indicating that the weakening of the high pressure system may not be pronounced enough to make the weather system re-curve and move towards southern Japan.
Speaking to radio dzMM, PAGASA weather forecaster Samuel Duran said there is no definitive forecast yet on what course the typhoon will take. Nonetheless, he said local government units and residents in high-risk areas must still prepare for a possible evacuation.
LEYTE’S DISASTER RESPONSE TEAMS ACTIVATED, VOLUNTARY EVACUATIONS IN COASTAL AREAS UNDERWAY
Leyte is not taking any chances given Typhoon Ruby’s unpredictable track.
Leyte Governor Leopoldo Petilla says residents in coastal areas in Leyte have begun to evacuate in anticipation of the typhoon.
Petilla said they activated their disaster response teams 2 days ago and suspended classes until the weekend.
Relocation sites have also been designated in every barangay. There areas were mapped out for possible hazards including storm surges.
“The weather is still okay but people have started to evacuate. We don’t know kung direct hit sa amin o hindi, but we decided to prepare for the worst. Even those who are not living along the coast, sa mga ilog, kahit wala sa ilog o coast, mga bahay na light materials i-eevacuate din namin yan.”
“We have learned a lot from Yolanda. Hopefully, we can use that now kung mag direct hit sa amin. Sana hindi maulit ulit (yung sa Yolanda).”
Petilla also said that government agencies and NGOs in the province will meet tomorrow (Dec. 5) on typhoon preparations and possible clearing operations should the typhoon make landfall in the province.
He also reported that some residents have already resorted to stocking-up on food.
He also assured the public that prices will remain in check amid fears of panic buying.
“Expected yan na dadagsa ang mga tao na mamimili. I don’t see that as a problem… Ang DTI naman just like in Yolanda, they have been monitoring the price kapag may typhoon,” Petilla said.
14,000 FAMILIES TO BE EVACUATED FROM COASTAL TOWNS IN GUIUAN, EASTERN SAMAR
Around 14,000 families in 47 coastal barangays in Guiuan, Eastern Samar may be evacuated on Friday before Typhoon Euby is expected to make landfall.
Guiuan Mayor Christopher Gonzales said they are preparing relief supplies for evacuees good for 2-3 days.
The local government has also identified school buildings as temporary evacuation centers but they are still checking if they can withstand the typhoon.
An inter-cluster organization will also check if private houses can be used for evacuation.
“We have identified several buildings both public and private because we don’t have ready evacuation centers as of the moment,” Gonzales said.
PDRRMO: EASTERN SAMAR HAS NO DISASTER-RESILIENT EVACUATION CENTER
Eastern Samar does not have any disaster-resilient evacuation center.
But Levi Nicart of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office said they are coordinating with local officers to prepare for Typhoon Ruby: “Since Yolanda, we don’t have disaster resilient evacuation centers because some of the evacuation centers are at the moment are still being constructed.”
They are now identifying possible evacuation sites aside from school buildings like municipal and barangay halls and elevated areas where tents can be set up.
ILOILO BEGINS PREEMPTIVE EVACUATION OF 190 FAMILIES LIVING NEAR WATERS
In Iloilo, nearly 200 families are now being evacuated particularly those living near the waters.
Iloilo Provincial Administrator Raul Banias said they are hoping to finish preemptive evacuation today.
He adds that food supplies and transportation devices are already on standby in case Typhoon Ruby hits the province.
“We are ready for the typhoon and we will reposition logistics if necessary like vehicle supplies if needed… We have standby agreements with suppliers and nfa and we have 45 dump trucks on standby just in the eventuality the typhoon will hit Iloilo,” Banias says.
GOV’T PREPARES P4.69-B IN QUICK RESPONSE FUNDS FOR TYPHOON RUBY
Government is mobilizing over P4 Billion in Quick Response Funds for Typhoon Ruby where bulk will go to the transport and social welfare departments.
Budget Secretary Butch Abad says, the QRFs are comprehensively released to the departments at the start of the year as part of the “General Appropriations Act”.
This means that the departments may conduct emergency response without fulfilling required conditions and processes that may take time during a disaster.
The national government can also draw from the 2014 national disaster risk reduction and management fund in able to fund programs that will deal with the aftereffects of Typhoon Ruby.
CRITICAL AREAS
RED ALERT (Within 100 km radius from forecast track)
Aklan, Albay
Antique
Biliran
Capiz
Cebu
Eastern Samar
Iloilo
Leyte
Marinduque
Masbate
Northern Samar
Occidental Mindoro
Oriental Mindoro
Palawan
Quezon
Romblon
Samar
Sorsogon
ORANGE ALERT
Batangas
Bohol
Camarines Norte
Camarines Sur
Catanduanes
Cavite
Guimaras
Laguna
Metro Manila
Negros Occidental
Negros Oriental
Southern Leyte
Surigao del Norte
Rizal
YELLOW ALERT
Agusan del Norte
Agusan del Sur
Aurora
Bataan
Bulacan
Camiguin
Laguna
Nueva Ecija
Pampanga
Surigao del Sur
Tarlac
Zambales
The post Signal No. 1 up in 10 areas due to Typhoon Ruby appeared first on FAX | Filipino Association in Xiamen.