Disaster Preparedness is a constant goal. In order for us, Filipinos, to not only survive, but also thrive in the face of inevitable disasters, we must always learn from the lessons of the past.
Though 2013’s Super Typhoon Yolanda opened our eyes to the dangers of storm surges, this year also brought disasters that made headlines. Let’s take a look at how extreme weather events shaped another year.
Typhoon Amang
No one will forget the day Pope Francis visited the Philippines. But what also made it memorable was that it was same day when Typhoon Amang entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).
Amang first made its landfall as a Tropical Storm on January 16 at 3 PM. It stayed inside the Philippine boundary for 4 days, leaving almost 5,000 families homeless. A total of 21,867 persons were displaced from Regions V, VII AND VIII.
A total of 22 roads, bridges and spillways became unpassable. Amang also caused 9 incidents of landslide, 10 flooding cases, and one maritime incident. 152 houses were damaged, mostly in Vigan, Catanduanes and Daet in Camarines Norte.
Due to the stormy weather condition, Northern and Western Samar suffered from power interruption.
Typhoon Lando
The 12th cyclone for 2015, Typhoon Lando with international name Koppu entered the Philippine boundary last October 14, and made its exit on October 21. It was the High Pressure Area (HPA) located just above the West Philippine Sea that caused Lando stayed for one week inside the PAR.
The Cordillera region was severely damaged during the onslaught of Typhoon Lando. 35 people were killed in Northern and Central Luzon, while more than 900 thousand people were affected by flood.
A total of 540 houses were destroyed. Damages in infrastructure amounted to P559 million. Meanwhile, damages in agriculture reached P6.01 billion in Regions I, II, III, CALABARZON, V and CAR (Cordillera Administrative Region).
The slow-moving typhoon dumped more rain showers over Central and Northern Luzon. 15 towns in Cagayan province were affected by flood, as well as 91% percent of Cabanatuan.
A state of calamity was been declared in Nueva Ecija, Iligan City in Isabela and San Carlos City in Pangasinan.
Typhoon Nona
Typhoon Nona, with international name Melor, entered PAR last December 12.
This month, the cold and dry Northeast Monsoon or amihan is the dominant wind system, which is not favorable to the enhancement of a cyclone. Because of this, a weather disturbance tends to move to a lower location, making Southern Luzon and Visayas more prone to landfall activities.
Nona made five landfalls as it traversed Visayas and Southern Luzon. The first three landfalls were made on Decemeber 14. Its first landfall was in Batag in Northern Samar, followed by its second one at Bulusan, Sorsogon. The third landfall was at Burias Island, Masbate. On December 15, it marked its fourth landfall in Banton Island in Romblon, while the last one was made in Pinamalayan, Oriental Mindoro.
NDRRMC reports that as of December 15, a total of 130,682 individuals were affected in one city, 52 municipalities and 11 provinces in Regions of IV-A, IV-B, V and VIII.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development released P42.237 worth of relief assistance to the Local Government Units.
Typhoon Ineng
Landslides in Cordillera and Ilocos Region claimed 4 lives as typhoon Ineng (Goni) battered Luzon last August. A 10-year-old boy died in a landslide in Sabangan in Ilocos Norte, while 3 casualties were recorded in CAR.
Approximately 1,000 individuals were evacuated as rains persisted in Luzon, particularly over Pangasinan, Zambales and Bataan, due to the combined effect of Ineng and the Southwest Monsoon (habagat).
Yellow rainfall warning was also hoisted in Metro Manila, Rizal, Cavite, Laguna and Bataan.
Filipinos are known to be resilient, but we must not forget what these calamities have taught us. We must use our experience from past disasters to strengthen disaster preparedness program.
Sources:
http://www.gov.ph/2015/01/19/situation-report-on-typhoon-amang-as-of-january-19-2015-600-a-m/
http://www.ndrrmc.gov.ph/attachments/article/2607/SitRep_No_26_re_Preparedness_Measures_and_Effects_of_TY_LANDO_03NOV2015_0600H.pdf
http://www.ndrrmc.gov.ph/attachments/article/2663/SitRep_No_06_re_Preparedness_measures_and_Effects_of_TY_NONA_(MELOR)_as_of_15DEC2015_2000H.pdf
http://www.panahon.tv/blog/2015/08/typhoon-soudelor-enters-par/
http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2015/10/14/1510614/typhoon-lando-enters-par
http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2015/08/22/1490819/ineng-batters-luzon-4-dead-landslides
http://www.rappler.com/move-ph/issues/disasters/109694-typhoon-lando-list-impassable-roads
http://www.rappler.com/nation/110099-ndrrmc-typhoon-lando-death-toll-october-21
http://www.manilatimes.net/nona-rains-destroy-high-value-crops/234967/
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/541238/news/nation/slow-moving-lando-causes-widespread-damage-in-luzon
http://www.mb.com.ph/ilagan-bridges-not-passable-barangays-flooded-due-to-nona/
Bagyong Amang came when the Pope arrived in the Philippines. Now it’s dissipating on the same day Pope Francis is leaving the country.
Amang, known as Mekkhala internationally, has weakened into a low pressure area this morning. Public Storm Warning Signals have been lifted.
Estimated at 85 km Northeast of Casiguran, Aurora at 10 am today, it is still expected to bring light to moderate rains over the regions Cagayan Valley, Cordillera and Ilocos.
State Meteorologist Glaiza Escullar says that the said weather disturbance has weakened due to the following factors:
1) Vertical wind shear. With a stronger wind shear, the heat is dispersed over a large area, weakening the tropical cyclone.
2) Friction effect.
3) Sea condition. As it moves relatively northward, the sea surface temperature gets lower, unable to sustain the strength of the bagyo.
4) Northeast monsoon. Cold and dry air intrusion is not conducive for any weather disturbance as this needs warm temperature to develop.
Expected to dissipate within 24 hours, Amang has made landfall thrice as a tropical cyclone and has crossed another as a low pressure area. Here’s its latest landfall track:
Today, the regions of Cagayan Valley, Cordillera and Ilocos will continue to experience light to moderate rains due to the existing weather disturbance. The rest of Luzon, including Metro Manila, will have cloudy skies with light rains caused by the prevailing northeast monsoon.
Visayas and Mindanao, on the other hand, can expect improved weather conditions apart from isolated thunderstorms.
In other related news, gale warning has been issued over the seaboards of Northern and Central Luzon, and the eastern seaboard of Southern Luzon. Wave height may reach up to 4.5 meters, making sea travel risky
in the following hours.
LAST DAY OF THE PAPAL VISIT
After a 5-day visit, the Pope will be leaving for Rome at 10 AM today. A departure ceremony will be held at the Presidential Pavilion of the Villamor Airbase.
Tropical storm Amang made its first landfall at 3:00 PM yesterday. At 7:00 AM today, it was estimated at 60 kilometers north northeast of Sorsogon City or 25 kilometers southwest of Virac, Catanduanes packing winds of 85 kilometers per hour and gustiness of up to 100 kilometers per hour. At a speed of 15 kilometers per hour, it moves in a northwest direction.
Public Storm Warning Signals are still up overs some areas of Luzon and Visayas.
Residents in low-lying and mountainous areas under the storm signals are alerted against possible flashfloods and landslides. Occurrence of ocean waves that may reach 6.5 meters are still possible within the 350 kilometer-diameter of Amang.
Bicol Region and the provinces of Samar, Quezon and Aurora will experience stormy weather. Metro Manila, the rest of CALABARZON and the provinces of Ifugao, Nueva Vizcaya, Bulacan, Quirino, Nueva Ecija, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque at Romblon will have rains with gusty winds. Western Visayas and the province of Leyte will be cloudy with light to moderate rains.
The rest of Visayas and Mindanao will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with a chance of thunderstorms while the rest of Luzon will be cloudy with light rains brought by the northeast monsoon or amihan.
Meanwhile, sea travel for fishing boats and other small seacraft is still risky on the seaboards of Luzon, Visayas and the eastern seaboard of Mindanao.
Papal Visit Day 4 Weather Forecast
At 10:00 AM today, the center of tropical storm “Amang” was estimated at 560 kilometers east of Borongan City, Eastern Samar with maximum sustained winds of 75 kilometers per hour and gustiness of up to 90 kilometers per hour. If Amang continues to move westward at 15 kilometers per hour, it is expected to make landfall over Northern Samar tomorrow evening.
As Amang moves closer to Visayas, some areas were put under Public Storm Warning Signal Number 1.
Amang is expected to bring estimated rainfall ranging from 7.5 to 20 millimeters per hour (heavy to intense) within its 300-kilometer diameter. Those who are residing in low-lying and mountainous areas under these storm signals are alerted against possible flash floods and landslides. Occurrence of ocean waves that may reach up to 6.5 meters are also possible.
PAGASA Weather Forecaster Aldczar Aurelio explained that the presence of two high pressure areas are influencing the movement of the tropical storm. However, there is still a chance for it to re-curve only if the high pressure area in the upper right will give way. As of now, Amang has a slim chance of intensifying into a typhoon. Continuous monitoring will be done in the following hours.
For today, occasional rains with gusty winds will be experienced over Bicol Region and Eastern Visayas. Cloudy skies with light to moderate rains are expected over Central Visayas and CARAGA. The rest of Visayas and Mindanao will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rains and possible thunderstorms.
Meanwhile due to the northeast monsoon or amihan, Cagayan Valley and Cordillera will have cloudy skies with light rains. Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated light rains.
Due to the winds associated with the prevailing amihan and Amang, sea travel remains risky over the seaboards of Northern and Central Luzon, and the eastern seaboards of Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.
Weather outlook for Papal Visit Days 3 and 4
Today is the 2nd day of Pope Francis in the Philippines. Based on his itinerary, tomorrow, January 17, he will travel from Manila to Tacloban to meet with Yolanda survivors. According to PAGASA Weather Forecaster Aldczar Aurelio, Tacloban will experience occasional rains with gusty winds.
Meanwhile, Pope Francis is expected to return back to Manila on January 18 to meet the youth and conduct a holy mass in Quirino Grandstand. Aurelio said we are expecting cloudy skies with light to moderate rains by Sunday.
At 4 AM today, a tropical depression (TD) was located at 1,610 kilometers east of Mindanao with maximum winds of 55 kph and moving west-northwest at 19 kph.
PAGASA Meteorologist Jun Galang says that the tropical depression is forecast to enter the PAR (Philippine Area of Responsibility) today or tomorrow morning. Two possible scenarios are expected to happen. First, there is a chance that it will make its landfall in the Bicol Region. Its effect will be experience too in Metro Manila. The other scenario is that the TD will re-curve, not hitting any part of the landmass. Either of the two, this will bring light to moderate rains, especially in Eastern Visayas and the Bicol Region.
Meanwhile, today, the northeast monsoon is still affecting Luzon, bringing light rains and cold weather over Cagayan Valley and Cordillera. Isolated light rains may still affect Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon.
CARAGA and the provinces of Leyte and Bohol will have cloudy skies with light to moderate rain showers. Possible occurrence of thunderstorms is also expected in the said areas. The rest of Visayas and Mindanao will continue to have fine weather aside from isolated rains and thunderstorms.
Welcome, Pope Francis!
Tomorrow, Pope Francis will arrive at the Villamor Airbase at 5:45 in the afternoon.Churches in the whole archipelago are encouraged to ring their bells as a sign of welcoming the Pope in the country.
The state weather bureau said that fair weather condition or partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated light rains will prevail tomorrow over Metro Manila.
