Pre-emptive evacuation ordered in Eastern Visayas due to ‘Nona’

TACLOBAN CITY, Dec. 14 (PNA) – The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council has asked local government units in Eastern Visayas to order pre-emptive evacuation in coastal areas as typhoon Nona made its landfall in Northern Samar on Monday.

Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) Regional Director Edgar L. Posadas, RDRRMC chairperson encouraged local authorities to enforce mandatory evacuation if needed.

“The typhoon’s 150 kilometers per hour sustained winds and 185 kilometers per hour gustiness is strong. It becomes more violent,” Posadas told PNA.

“We want to call both authorities and the public to listen to advisories and be vigilant. It is a joint responsibility of the people and government to ensure everyone’s safety.”

The RDRRMC warned on the possibility of up to two meters storm surges in areas near the center of the typhoon.

With typhoon Nona moving west at only 17 kilometers per hour, it is expected to dump heavy rains in the region in the next two days, according to Posadas.

The official is confident that local government units are more prepared now after learning the lessons of super typhoon Yolanda on Nov. 8, 2013.

“They are prepared. Indeed, they have been regularly reporting what they have been doing even before public storm warning signals were raised in their areas,” the OCD chief.

RDRRMC members have convened on Sunday to discuss preparedness measures and assess available resources that would be extended to local government units (LGUs).

“Aside from prepositioning of foods, no other assistance has been asked by LGUs from the national government,” Posadas added.

Classes in all levels have been suspended in the provinces of Northern Samar, Biliran, Samar, Eastern Samar, and some part of Leyte and Southern Leyte.

As of 1 p.m., the typhoon was located in the vicinity of Catarman, Northern Samar, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration’s social media account.

As on Monday afternoon, Eastern Visayas provinces that were placed under public storm warning signal 3 were Northern Samar, Samar, Biliran, and Eastern Samar. Leyte and Southern Leyte were placed under storm warning signals 2 and 1, respectively. (PNA)
SARWELL Q. MENIANO