DAGUPAN CITY—Barely recovering from the heavy devastation that Pangasinan suffered from a massive flooding early this month, local disaster officials are again on their toes to prepare for Typhoon "Santi," which is expected to hit the province if it does not change course in the coming days.

Paterno Orduña, executive officer of the provincial disaster coordinating council (PDCC), said command posts, which will serve as quick reaction teams during emergencies, have long been stationed in flood-prone areas, especially in eastern and central Pangasinan.

"We are ready. In fact, we have been monitoring the movement of the incoming typhoon," Orduña said.

Three weeks ago, 38 Pangasinan towns and cities were heavily flooded due to the rains dumped by tropical depression "Pepeng" and the release of excess water from the San Roque Dam in San Manuel town.

At least 62 people died and property, infrastructure, crops and fisheries worth P9.5 billion were destroyed in the province.

When floodwaters receded two weeks ago, Gov. Amado Espino Jr. ordered the immediate rehabilitation of breached dikes along the Agno River and a bridge across the Ambayoan River in San Nicolas town, which had isolated at least 18 villages of the town.

In preparation for Typhoon "Ramil" last week, Espino ordered mayors and police chiefs to embark on a "preemptive, forcible evacuation" of families in danger zones and low-lying areas.

"We have issued the same advisory to the mayors for them to determine suitable evacuation centers, to stay alert and to take all precautionary measures to secure their respective constituents to prevent casualties," Orduña said.

According to the weather bureau's website, the water level at the San Roque Dam, as of 10 a.m. Thursday, was 277.20 meters above sea level (masl), which is about 2.8 meters below its flood level of 280 masl.