MANILA, Philippines – Local officials conducted preemptive and forced evacuation in areas prone to flooding and landslides as Typhoon Karen (Sarika) intensified further early Saturday evening, October 15, ahead of its expected landfall in Aurora province early Sunday morning, October 16.
Karen has prompted the evacuation of about 16,000 people across affected regions as of 6 pm Saturday, including 8,648 in Catanduanes, 5,762 in Albay, 1,316 in Camarines Sur, 110 in Sorsogon, 78 in Camarines Norte, and 57 in Naga City.
Aurora
Aurora province conducted preemptive and forced evacuations in high-risk areas in the following towns beginning Saturday afternoon.
- Baler
- Dinalungan
- Dingalan
Guests in seaside hotels and inns in Baler were included in the preemptive evacuation order due to the threat of a storm surge, the Philippine Information Authority reported.
Quezon
Quezon Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO) head Henry Buzar recommended the forced evacuation of residents living along coastlines and riverbanks. Some areas in the province are prone to flash floods and storm surges.
The Provincial Social Welfare and Social Welfare Office (PSWDO) is conducting hourly monitoring of communities.
Isabela
At least 25 families with 96 people were preemptively evacuated to the Digumased Conference Hall in Dinapigue town in Isabela.
Sorsogon
At least 5 families with a total number of 14 people from Barangay Mapaso in Irosin located at the foot of Mountt Bulusan were evacuated fom their homes in anticipation of lahar flow due to heavy rains.
Laguna
At least 66 families or 186 individuals in Jomalig, Quezon, were moved to evacuation centers.
Cagayan
Authorities advised residents living in low-lying areas to monitor the water level in nearby rivers and those living in landslide-prone areas to evacuate.
NCR
Disaster management officials on Saturday placed the entire National Capital Region (NCR) under Alpha Alert.
Under Alpha Alert, local governments shall make efforts to advice and warn residents in their respective areas regarding the typhoon.
Social welfare officers and emergency rescue personnel were also placed on standby for immediate action.
Listo
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) placed LGUs in affected areas on various LISTO alert levels Saturday morning, according to DILG Director Allan Tabell.
LISTO is a set of critical preparedness actions that local governments should take following Oplan Listo (Operation Plan Alert). It provides mayors and other local government disaster management agencies a checklist of what should be done before, during, and after typhoons.
The alert system corresponds to 3 phases of critical preparedness actions – Alpha, Bravo, and Charlie.
Alpha alert
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Bravo alert
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Charlie
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The 1991 Local Government Code and the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010 mandate local government units to be at the frontline of emergency measures during disasters. – Rappler.com
Check if your mayors are taking these minimum preparedness activities that LGUs should be enforcing in areas expected to be affected by Typhoon Karen. Tell us how prepared your LGUs are through email (move.ph@rappler.com) or Twitter (@moveph).