Quezon province on alert for ‘Ulysses’

LUCENA CITY –– With the intensified Tropical Storm “Ulysses” (international name: Vamco) approaching, authorities in Quezon province on Tuesday alerted residents living in disaster-prone areas to prepare for evacuation.

Ma. Janet Geneblazo, Quezon public information officer, reminded the public to heed the advice of the Local Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (LDRRMC) to immediately seek refuge in evacuation centers in their areas.

“It’s for your safety,” Geneblazo said on social media.

Melchor Avenilla Jr., head of the provincial disaster risk reduction and management office, said his office has been closely monitoring the forecasted path of Ulysses towards Quezon.

“Gov. Danilo Suarez may place the province under a red-alert status tomorrow (Nov.  11) morning,” he said in a phone interview Tuesday.

He said Suarez has called the PDRRMC and other concerned provincial government offices to an emergency meeting to discuss the preparation and immediate disaster response should the storm hit the province.

Geneblazo said all seaports in the province have suspended sea travels as ordered by the Philippine Coast Guard.

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 has been raised over southern  Quezon.

Ulysses, packing maximum sustained winds of 65 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 80 kph, may reach the typhoon category, and its peak intensity will be on Wednesday afternoon or evening.

It is expected to make landfall over Quezon on Thursday morning.

ZB