MANILA, Philippines — Attention, residents of areas threatened by a typhoon.
You may find these survival tips issued on Wednesday by the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) helpful as various government agencies prepare for supertyphoon “Yolanda” (international name Haiyan), which is expected to make a landfall over Samar-Leyte on Friday.
Among these tips include very practical and timely reminders on how to prepare before, during and after a typhoon, the PRC said.
If there is a need to move to an evacuation center, follow these reminders:
- Evacuate calmly.
- Close the windows and turn off the main power switch.
- Put important appliances and belongings in a high ground.
- Avoid the way leading to the river.
Meanwhile, the PRC said that its rescue equipment, like rubber boats, generator sets, fuel and vehicles are on stand by for possible operation or deployment.
“Additional emergency supplies are being provided to PRC chapters. PRC staff and volunteers are also starting to pack relief items such as food, sleeping items and hygiene kits to be distributed to areas that may be affected,” it said.
As of press time, the PRC said it has started coordinating for the prepositioning of food items (rice, canned goods, sugar, salt, cooking oil) for 5,000 families and these goods would be handed over to the PRC Chapters in need of urgent support for response operation.
It added that non-food items such as laundry soap, bath soap, jerry cans, kitchen sets and tarpaulins will also be sent.
In a statement, PRC Chairman Richard Gordon enjoined Red Cross chapters in Visayas to be alert 24 hours a day and be prepared for any untoward incident.
“We enjoin staff and volunteers of Red Cross chapters based in Visayas to be alert 24 hours a day and continue to monitor their respective areas. We should always be prepared to act immediately for any untoward incident,” said Gordon.
“Let us all continue to monitor, coordinate and report status of evacuees, overflow of dams, landslides, flooding incidents and general conditions to the PRC National Headquarters Operation Center,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) acquired on Wednesday 40 new rubber boats and 30 aluminum, V-shaped hull boats to augment its current assets for maritime and rescue operations.
“These [rubber boats] have no markings yet by PCG but if it is deemed necessary, we might use them here in Metro Manila for search and rescue mission, especially with the expected supertyphoon,” he said during the inspection held in PCG main headquarters in Port Area, Manila.
Isorena said 30 more aluminum boats would soon be delivered to improve PCG’s ability to rescue people in flooded areas.
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