Cagayan, Isabela on ‘red alert,’ bracing for Neneng
TUGUEGARAO CITY – The disaster risk reduction councils of Cagayan and Isabela were placed on ‘red alert’ on Saturday, Oct. 15, as Tropical Depression “Neneng” is expected to hit Calayan town on Sunday.
Neneng will affect mainland Cagayan and northern Isabela, bringing “heavy to intense, with at times torrential rains” to Cagayan, Batanes, Babuyan Islands and Ilocos Norte starting Saturday night until Sunday, the state weather bureau said in its 11 a.m. bulletin Saturday.
Rueli Rapsing, Cagayan Disaster Risk Reduction and Management officer-in-charge, said in a news briefing that rescue teams have been “on standby” in designated areas.
Tropical cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 has been hoisted over Cagayan and the northern part of Isabela, areas which are still recovering from the onslaught of Tropical Depression “Mamay” that brought widespread flooding Oct. 12.
In the coastal town of Calayan, Mayor Joseph Llopis has prepared disaster response teams while villagers and volunteers helped fishers secure their bancas to higher ground.
“We are prepared always as we are typhoon prone here (Calayan),” Llopis told Inquirer in a text message.
