CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Typhoon Odette has left this city and Iligan with zero casualty in its aftermath Friday, despite having a maximum sustained winds of 195 kph, and gustiness of up to 240 kph.
During the online coronavirus disease 2019 briefer, Dr. Teodoro Yu Jr., medical officer of the City Health Office took the time to thank the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (CDRRMO) led by Nick Jabagat for its vigilant response and close coordination with rescuers and volunteers on the ground.
Mayor Oscar Moreno said the local government was also thankful to partner organizations and agencies, adding that despite the threat of property destruction and cost of lives, the unified team was able to survive.
"The sun is up again, we are glad we can now look back at Odette, (we are) relieved and comforted with the thought we were spared," he said.
Moreno, however, lamented that disinformation online circulated anew, where old photographs of destroyed houses and dead people from the previous storm, "Sendong."
"There were intense moments, still in the end we were spared by the Almighty. And to think, it's the 10th anniversary of Sendong," he said.
"Sendong" left a historic mark in the city and Iligan City because despite having only a maximum sustained winds of 95 kph, and being smaller than Odette, it caused at least 2,500 deaths, especially in nearby river communities.
Meanwhile, the Cagayan de Oro City Social Welfare and Development (CSWD) was able to record 12,877 individuals or 3,270 families in 49 evacuation sites as of 9 p.m., Thursday, as a result of the forced evacuation implemented by the local government in flood-prone areas.
Many of the areas with massive evacuation were the same villages hit by weather disturbances in the past, most notable among them were Sendong, Pablo, and Vinta.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development Region 10 said it has prepared its standby funds and stockpile assistance consisting of family food packs valuing PHP80.6 million for utilization, while the health department has prepared its medicines and personnel support for rollout.