The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) is still on Red Alert as typhoon Karen approaches Central Luzon.
“Red alert means all member-agencies are ready for eventual response and 24/7 operations,” RDRRMC Chairperson and Office of Civil Defense Regional Director Josefina Timoteo said.
Based on the joint NDRRMC-RDRRMCs’ Pre-Disaster Risk Assessment (PDRA) meeting this morning, typhoon “Karen” is set to make landfall over Quezon-Aurora area tomorrow between 5 and 7 a.m.
However, Timoteo reminded RDRRMC member-agencies and local government units that they should be ready to respond anytime in case “Karen” gains speed and makes landfall earlier is projected.
With this, various government agencies and local DRMMCs have activated their disaster monitoring systems to track the typhoon’s progress.
For its part, the Department of Social Welfare and Development regional office has ensured the availability of stocks of food and non-food items at the Regional Warehouse to complement supplies at the different satellite warehouses and local government units.
Meanwhile, the Department of Health has prepositioned P3 million worth of assorted medicines and health emergency management-related logistics in all seven provinces of the region.
The Department of Agriculture has also prepositioned buffer seeds to be given to farmers who may be affected by typhoon “Karen”; while uniformed personnel, including that of the Philippine National Police, Bureau of Fire Protection and Armed Forces of the Philippines have alerted their stations for possible rescue and relief operations.
“Together with the Department of Interior and Local Government, we are also closely coordinating with LGUs, especially in the Aurora area, if they can conduct pre-emptive evacuation as there is a possibility of storm surge,” Timoteo said.
The regional director also mentioned that all seven provinces of Central Luzon are highly susceptible to landslides while Bulacan and Tarlac provinces are highly susceptible to flooding, as she urged the public to take precautionary measures and ensure their safety.