Surigao City ready for possible onslaught from Queenie

The local government of Surigao City said it is ready for the possible onslaught of Tropical Storm Queenie (international name: Banyan).

The City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office is monitoring the weather condition 24/7 to enable quick response, according to a report by Rgil Relator of GMA Regional TV One Mindanao on Unang Balita on Tuesday.

Authorities have readied its equipment for road clearing, water search and rescue, and extrication should any structure collapse, as well as floating aids and masonry tools.

"Sa Oplan Undas ngayon, the CDRRMO has conserved its resources — human atsaka vehicles. Ina-anticipate namin ang pagdating ni Queenie," Surigao CDRRMO chief Threlcie Aliguay Villaces.

(With Oplan Undas today, the CDRRMO has conserved its resources — human and vehicles. We are anticipating the arrival of Queenie.)

The CDRMMO is coordinating with other national agencies, he added.

Surigao City is looking into conducting preemptive evacuation in 33 barangays in the mainland which have areas that were flooded during recent typhoons and storms.

There are also 21 island barangays that may possibly be affected by strong winds and waves.

The CDRRMO said it is also using other weather references such as aggregated interface data to get more information.

On Tuesday morning, Surigao City was experiencing fair weather but authorities are continuously monitoring the weather conditions.

Queenie is moving westward over the Philippine Sea east of Mindanao on Tuesday and may bring rains over Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, and Dinagat Islands, PAGASA said in its 5 a.m. bulletin.

These three areas may have moderate to heavy rains starting Tuesday night until Wednesday, the weather bureau added. —KG, GMA News