Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Sen. Dick Gordon mobilized PRC staff and volunteers nationwide to provide immediate assistance to affected individuals by Typhoon "Odette" on Friday, Dec. 17.
Typhoon Odette made its first landfall at Surigao del Norte and made its third and fourth landfalls in the province of Southern Leyte on Thursday afternoon, Dec. 16.
PRC said that the typhoon caused power supply, water supply, and communication disrupted which forced thousands of families to be evacuated across the Visayas regions as it rampaged through the central part of the Philippines after wreaking havoc in Mindanao on Thursday evening, December 16.
Gordon instructed the local chapters to prepare the payloaders to clear unpassable roads due to fallen trees and debris. Relief items such as sleeping kits, hygiene kits, tarpaulins, jerry cans, and shelter tool kits were also prepared to aid the most vulnerable.
“Tayo ay mag-ingat dahil napakalakas ng bagyo. Simula noong Lunes ay naghahanda na tayo sa paparating na bagyo. Kasama ang local chapters, ay patuloy kaming tutulong to alleviate human suffering and uplift the dignity of the people. Tayo din dapat ay mag-ingat dahil sa kasagsagan ng bagyo, ay nasa gitna tayo ng pandemya (Let's stay safe because the storm is really strong. Since Monday we have been preparing for this. Together with our local chapters, we continue to help in order to alleviate human suffering and uplift the people's dignity. We should remain safe because amid this storm, we are in the middle of a pandemic),” Gordon said.
Chairman Gordon also reiterated the importance of practicing safety protocols in the evacuation areas to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
PRC continues to provide ready-to-eat meals to affected individuals in the evacuation centers. To date, PRC provided 12,952 hot meals and targets to feed more affected individuals.
PRC has a total of 28 food trucks nationwide, ready to be deployed in situations like disaster, calamities, and conflict. Gordon also plans to procure additional food trucks to hasten relief operations.
Gordon has also directed the organization to send out rescue vehicles. Currently, PRC said that it has 175 ambulances, M/V Amazing Grace, 139 motorcycles, 34 rubber boats, seven payloaders, eight humvees, two amphibians, 10 rescue vehicles, 19 fire trucks, 22 water tankers, and 28 food trucks ready to be deployed during disasters, calamities, and conflicts.