Bicolandia braces for typhoon Chedeng
LEGAZPI CTY, ALBAY – The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) here has issued an advisory yesterday calling all local disaster risk and management councils and offices to prepare for and monitor typhoon “Chedeng,” (International name Maysak) which may enter the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) today.
The advisory mandates all chief executives and their respective DRRMCs and DRRMOs from cities, municipalities and barangays have in place disaster preparedness and response schemes especially if the typhoon changes its course and veers directly toward the Bicol region.
Albay governor and PDRRMC chairman Joey Salceda advises all LDRRMCs to convene as early as today to discuss preparedness with a local scenario for advance planning on appropriate counter measures.
Residents in vulnerable areas are also advised to be on alert for possible flashfloods, landslides and other related hazards.
Resort owners and barangay captains in the eastern seaboard of the province are also advised to take reasonable countermeasures.
According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration’s latest bulletin yesterday, the eye of typhoon Chedeng was spotted 1,410 kilometers east of Surigao City with maximum sustained winds of 215 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 250 kilometers per hour. It is forecast to move west northwest at 17 kph.
NGCP preparations
Meantime, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) is activating today its North and South Luzon Regional Command Centers and District Command Centers in preparation for typhoon Chedeng.
As part of its Integrated Disaster Action Plan (IDAP), NGCP is imple- menting the necessary preparations and precautions to minimize the impact of Typhoon Chedeng on power transmission operations and facilities.
Preparations include ensuring the reliability of communications equipment, availability of hardware materials, standby generators, vehicles, SCADA spares and supplies necessary for the repair of damage to facilities, as well as the positioning of line crews and helicopters in strategic areas, to facilitate immediate restoration work.
The IDAP prescribes these and other procedures to ensure the readiness of all power transmission facilities expected to be affected by the passage of the weather disturbance.
NGCP’s Overall Disaster Command Center monitors all power restoration activities, reports, and updates from the Regional Command Centers in North Luzon, South Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, whichever is directly affected by the weather disturbance. (With a report from Sarah Imperial)