Tacloban to launch color-coded evacuation plan

TACLOBAN CITY, July 4 (PNA) -- The city government here will formally launch this month a color-coded evacuation plan to boost the city’s preparedness for natural calamities.

The City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (CDRRMO) will make use of color-coded identification (ID) cards for those families living in high risk areas.

The CDRRMO has identified about 22,000 families that should be transferred to safe evacuation centers during typhoon.

Ildebrando Bernadas, CDRRMO chief said ID cards will have a photo of the head of the family. At the back of the card is the list of family members, their profile information and their special needs inside the evacuation center.

The city government will also provide a color-coded village evacuation map to each family. Attached is the color-coded evacuation center for different groups of families to guide them during evacuation operations.

“We have to be ready. Typhoon season is upon us. Each family has to if they’re in an area that should be evacuated,” said Mayor Cristina Gonzales-Romualdez.

Romualdez emphasized the need to educate the public on evacuation procedures.

After super typhoon Yolanda struck in 2013, the city government has identified more evacuation centers.

From 52 evacuation centers during pre-Yolanda months, the number rose to 103 this year. Four of these are permanent evacuation centers and some are temporary evacuation centers, such as schools, churches, some private warehouses.

The city government also established three operation centers with prepositioned relief goods, equipment and personnel for emergency use.

Tacloban has improved in terms of disaster preparedness, according to Bernadas, through the help of different of the national government and non-government organizations.

However, the city still needs to continue updating the hazard map and some response plans. (PNA)

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