Disaster units on alert for Odette — NDRRMC

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said Wednesday that all disaster units are on alert for Typhoon Odette, which is expected to hit central and southern parts of the country later this week.

Odette would mostly affect the Visayas, Mimaropa, Southern Luzon, Bicol, and a large portion of Mindanao, according to NDRRMC spokesperson Mark Timbal, who was interviewed on Super Radyo dzBB.

The shear line will also bring rains over other parts of Luzon including Metro Manila.

“In effect, lahat ng disaster councils sa Pilipinas ay naka-alerto para rito kay Odette (all disaster councils here in the Philippines are on alert for Odette),” he said.

Marilyn Puno, head of the Surigao del Norte Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), said that preemptive evacuations started in the province on Tuesday.

“Nag-declare na po si Governor Francisco Matugas ng (The governor already declared a) preemptive evacuation prioritizing sick people, elderlies, infants, physically challenged persons, and pregnant women,” she said.

Residents who refuse to leave their houses in areas prone to flooding, storm surge, and landslides would be forced to evacuate, she added.

Classes and work schedules were also suspended.

Josefina Titong, chief of the PDRRMO in Eastern Samar, said that since Tuesday, many local government units in the province have been conducting preemptive evacuations.

Josh Echano, head of the Northern Samar PDRRMO, said they are intensifying their efforts to ensure the safety of their residents, not only because of the approaching storm, but also because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to Echano, more evacuation centers are needed to accommodate a possible influx of evacuees while maintaining social distance inside these facilities.

Echano added that the PDRRMO is also preparing the food supply as the typhoon may generate landslides, which could impede the transport of goods in their area.

“Maganda naman yung response ng mga kababayan natin dahil sa pagkahaba ng karanasan natin sa bagyo (Because of our extensive experience with storms, the people have a positive response),” he said.

Office of Civil Defense (OCD) - Caraga Director Liza Mazo said the focus is on storm preparedness in coastal communities.

She also said that relief packs had already been prepared.

Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson Commodore Armand Balilo said sea travel is suspended in areas under tropical cyclone wind signal and gale warning.

“Hindi natin puwede i-compromise ang ating safety sa ganitong klaseng panahon (We cannot compromise our safety in times like this),” he said.

Weather bureau PAGASA said Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 2 is up over two areas in Mindanao: eastern portion of Surigao del Norte (Claver, Siargao and Bucas Grande Islands) and Surigao del Sur.

Areas under TCWS No. 1 include other provinces in Mindanao, Visayas, and Bicol region.

As of 10 a.m., PAGASA said the center of Typhoon Odette was spotted 590 kilometers east of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur.

It has maximum sustained winds of 120 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 150 km/h. — VBL, GMA News