‘Yolanda’ brings rains, strong winds to parts of Laguna
STA CRUZ, Laguna, Philippines – “Supertyphoon” Yolanda started to be felt in Sta. Cruz and Sta. Rosa City in Laguna when rains accompanied with strong winds arrived at about 4 p.m. Thursday, alarming residents whose houses were still submerged in floods brought by the previous rains.
Aldwin Cejo, operation head of the Laguna Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council, told the Philippine Daily Inquirer in an interview that preemptive evacuation has been done in 18 lakeshore cities and municipalities prone to flooding during typhoons and downpour
Among these 18 municipalities and cities include San Pedro, Biñan, Sta. Rosa, Sta. Cruz, Calamba, Los Baños, Cabuyao, Victoria, Mabitac, Sta. Maria, Calauan, Bay, Pila, Lumban, among others.
He said all the 65 evacuation centers throughout the province were already reactivated to provide residents immediate shelter during emergencies.
In coordination with the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Center, rescue and disaster response groups involving the Philippine Army and other volunteer groups were also pre-deployed to areas of concern together with rescue equipment, Cejo told the Philippine Daily Inquirer.
Meanwhile, Sta. Cruz residents expressed fears that Yolanda would worsen their already difficult conditions as they have not recovered from the floods brought by the southwest monsoon and typhoon “Santi” in early October.
Article continues after this advertisementNatalia Masajol, president of the Samahan ng Mga Kababaihan ng Brgy San Pablo Norte said many of their houses have remained submerged in four-to-six-feet-deep floods and the coming of Yolanda would surely worsen their situation. San Pablo Norte has a population of about 3,000 families, according to Masajol.
Article continues after this advertisementShe said four other lakeshore such as Barangay Santissima, Talayon, Green Village and San Miguel have not recovered from the floods spawned by typhoon Santi.
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