COME HELL OR HIGHWATER Volunteers of the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) were called to action as early as the morning of July 24, when the impact of Supertyphoon Carina was beginning to be felt in Metro Manila and other parts of Luzon. —photos from PRC
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) renewed its appeal to the donor community and the general public to continue supporting its emergency relief and rehabilitation efforts, this time for the victims of Supertyphoon Carina (international name: Gaemi).
The PRC issued the call on Saturday as it reported the full mobilization of its volunteers and resources for simultaneous relief operations in areas affected by severe flooding in Metro Manila and other regions due to the monsoon rains enhanced by the typhoon.
As of Friday afternoon, the PRC Operations Center had recorded 114,619 displaced individuals who are currently staying in 586 evacuation centers in Metro Manila, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Iloilo, Batangas-Nasugbu, Cagayan, Occidental Mindoro, Bulacan and Rizal province.
READ: Over 10,000 families in NCR evacuated due to Carina – DSWD
Over 500 individuals have received assistance and more than 400 were rescued by PRC emergency response units in Manila, Malabon, Quezon City, Mandaluyong, San Juan, Valenzuela, Rizal province and Zambales.
Multipurpose response trucks, ambulance units and food trucks have been mobilized in Metro Manila, while rescue boats were sent to Quezon City, Valenzuela, Caloocan, Malabon and Marikina.
PRC water search and rescue teams have also been activated to rescue individuals trapped in their homes, stuck on roofs and other elevated areas due to knee- and chest-deep flooding.
102 chapters activated
Around 21,500 individuals have since received hot meals delivered by Red Cross volunteers to families in evacuation centers, while clean water has been distributed by the PRC’s water, sanitation and hygiene unit to 129 families in Cavite.
Convening a meeting early morning on July 24, as the first effects of Carina were being felt, PRC chair and chief executive officer Dick Gordon ordered the immediate deployment of manpower, emergency vehicles and equipment, as well as 24/7 assessment and monitoring of all on-the-ground activities.
“I immediately mandated our 102 chapters to mobilize the Red Cross 143 volunteers because we don’t want people to die. If you need assistance, contact our Operations Center right away by calling 143. This is a dangerous storm; I pray for everyone’s safety,” a PRC statement quoted Gordon as saying.
PRC secretary general Gwen Pang said the Red Cross remained prepared and equipped to respond to all kinds of emergencies throughout this rainy season.
Pang reminded the public to always have a so-called Go Bag ready—for nonperishable food, water, flashlight, first-aid and hygiene kits, clothes and other essentials good for at least 72 hours—which they can easily take should they need to leave their homes during an emergency. —contributed