OCD raises highest emergency protocol for 'Amang'
Published Apr 12, 2023 08:33 am
The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) hoisted Wednesday, April 12, the “Charlie” protocol – its highest level of emergency preparation – for tropical depression “Amang.”
(Tropical Depression "Amang / courtesy of Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration)
Charlie protocol is raised when communities are at a “high risk” in the event of an emergency. It is the highest among four levels with the other statuses identified as “Standby” (no to very low risk), “Alpha” (low risk), and “Bravo” (moderate risk).
“All of the agencies related to emergency response are on alert and we are closely coordinating with the local government units and member-agencies of the NDRRMC [National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council],” Diego Agustin Mariano, head of OCD Joint Information Center, said in a public briefing.
Under a Charlie protocol, warnings and advisories shall be constantly issued to keep the public informed about the latest weather updates. The Emergency Operations Center (EOC) was also activated to a “red alert” as well as majority or all of the response clusters.
The OCD may also recommend for work and/or class suspension in the affected areas, and the conduct of preemptive or forced evacuation. Properties, small sea vessels, and other movable assets must also be secured and moved to a safer ground while maritime safety of all watercraft must be ensured.
“So far, we have no reported preemptive evacuation yet but we are continuously monitoring the situation,” Mariano said.
Further, the OCD also ordered local DRRM councils to pre-position all the available rapid deployment teams, assets and equipment for possible rescue and clearing operations, as well as relief assistance in strategic areas.
“All the manpower, emergency rescuers, and doctors are on standby. No one took a break and all of the emergency workers came to work,” Mariano added.
There should also be an advance augmentation of resources; an accounting and assessment of response facilities such as EOCs and evacuation centers, and critical lifelines like water, communications, and power.
Meanwhile, secondary hazards such as dam release and flashfloods must be regularly monitored, according to Mariano.
Travel advisories must also be issued appropriately while advance assistance for affected communities shall be arranged. Finally situational reports must be released regularly.
For tourists who are in the affected areas while on a vacation trip, Mariano appealed to them to temporarily stay at home or inside their billeting houses to ensure they are safe until the bad weather is over.
“If you are planning to go outside and you are in areas under Signal No. 1, cancel your plans until there is an active signal warning and wind signals. If you are in an island under Signal No. 1, stay at home or wherever you are, don’t go outside if it is not necessary for you to go out to make sure you are safe,” Mariano said.
According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), the center of TD Amang was estimated over the coastal waters of Caramoan, Camarines Sur as of 2 p.m. Wednesday.
TD Amang was moving north, northwestward at 10 km/hour. It has a maximum sustained winds of 45 km/hour near the center and gustiness of up to 55 km/hour.
Pagasa said tropical cyclone wind signal number 1 was raised over Catanduanes, Sorsogon, Albay, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Laguna, Aurora, Quezon including Polillo Islands, Rizal, Bulacan, and Nueva Ecija.
PAGASA said Amang may also continue to bring heavy rains over Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, and the southern part of Aurora until Saturday, April 15.
(Tropical Depression "Amang / courtesy of Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration)
Charlie protocol is raised when communities are at a “high risk” in the event of an emergency. It is the highest among four levels with the other statuses identified as “Standby” (no to very low risk), “Alpha” (low risk), and “Bravo” (moderate risk).
“All of the agencies related to emergency response are on alert and we are closely coordinating with the local government units and member-agencies of the NDRRMC [National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council],” Diego Agustin Mariano, head of OCD Joint Information Center, said in a public briefing.
Under a Charlie protocol, warnings and advisories shall be constantly issued to keep the public informed about the latest weather updates. The Emergency Operations Center (EOC) was also activated to a “red alert” as well as majority or all of the response clusters.
The OCD may also recommend for work and/or class suspension in the affected areas, and the conduct of preemptive or forced evacuation. Properties, small sea vessels, and other movable assets must also be secured and moved to a safer ground while maritime safety of all watercraft must be ensured.
“So far, we have no reported preemptive evacuation yet but we are continuously monitoring the situation,” Mariano said.
Further, the OCD also ordered local DRRM councils to pre-position all the available rapid deployment teams, assets and equipment for possible rescue and clearing operations, as well as relief assistance in strategic areas.
“All the manpower, emergency rescuers, and doctors are on standby. No one took a break and all of the emergency workers came to work,” Mariano added.
There should also be an advance augmentation of resources; an accounting and assessment of response facilities such as EOCs and evacuation centers, and critical lifelines like water, communications, and power.
Meanwhile, secondary hazards such as dam release and flashfloods must be regularly monitored, according to Mariano.
Travel advisories must also be issued appropriately while advance assistance for affected communities shall be arranged. Finally situational reports must be released regularly.
For tourists who are in the affected areas while on a vacation trip, Mariano appealed to them to temporarily stay at home or inside their billeting houses to ensure they are safe until the bad weather is over.
“If you are planning to go outside and you are in areas under Signal No. 1, cancel your plans until there is an active signal warning and wind signals. If you are in an island under Signal No. 1, stay at home or wherever you are, don’t go outside if it is not necessary for you to go out to make sure you are safe,” Mariano said.
According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), the center of TD Amang was estimated over the coastal waters of Caramoan, Camarines Sur as of 2 p.m. Wednesday.
TD Amang was moving north, northwestward at 10 km/hour. It has a maximum sustained winds of 45 km/hour near the center and gustiness of up to 55 km/hour.
Pagasa said tropical cyclone wind signal number 1 was raised over Catanduanes, Sorsogon, Albay, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Laguna, Aurora, Quezon including Polillo Islands, Rizal, Bulacan, and Nueva Ecija.
PAGASA said Amang may also continue to bring heavy rains over Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, and the southern part of Aurora until Saturday, April 15.