Elements of the Batanes police force have started to assist residents of the province in anticipation of a possible severe weather event as Typhoon “Kiko” gets near their area Friday, September 10.
Batanes has been regularly hit by mild to severe weather disturbances that led residents to devise ways to minimize damages, one of which is an innovation called “Kapanpet”.
The Kapanpet is the tying up of structures, mostly roofings of houses and establishments, to prevent these from being dislodged and thrown through the air.
Another practice is called “Tapangko” where wooden shutters are used to protect windows.
Called the Ivatans, the people of Batanes have perfected these practices as the province, apart from being in the path of many of the region's typhoons, also has a windswept landscape.
Meantime, As of Friday evening, tropical cyclone wind signal number 4 has been hoisted over Batanes and northeastern portion of Babuyan Islands.
The center of the eye of the typhoon was located 135 kilometers east-southeast of Calayan, Cagayan at around 10 p.m.
Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the typhoon was packing maximum sustained winds of 215 kilometers per hour (kph) and gustiness of up to 265 kph while moving northwest at 20 kph.