The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) on Monday, Oct. 21, announced that it has activated its resources, chapters, and volunteers in response to Tropical Cyclone Kristine entering the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).
“We are always ready for action,” said PRC Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Richard “Dick” Gordon in a statement.
He added that the PRC’s Operations Center has been monitoring the tropical cyclone since Oct. 20.
“Sa ating mga kababayan, maging alerto at handa sa paparating na bagyo. Nandito ang Red Cross para tulungan kayo, pero kailangan n’yo rin tulungan ang inyong mga sarili para sa inyong kaligtasan (To our fellow citizens, be alert and prepared for the incoming typhoon. The Red Cross is here to assist you, but you also need to help yourselves for your safety),” he added.
Monitoring regular updates from the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), the PRC said it immediately held an emergency meeting in preparation for its response to the affected areas.
The PRC stated that its 102 chapters and over two million volunteers nationwide are on standby for deployment.
Rescue vehicles, food trucks, water tankers, and ambulances are also ready to be mobilized, according to the PRC.
A welfare desk has been set up in Negros Occidental, with more to be established alongside first aid stations and health desks in the coming days.
The PRC also ensured that the blood supply would be sufficient.
Meanwhile, PRC Secretary General Dr. Gwen Pang urged the affected communities not to wait for the typhoon to make landfall before preparing.
Pang also encouraged individuals in the affected areas to prepare Go Bags containing clothing, medicine, hygiene items, a flashlight, a small radio, a whistle, and enough food to last for up to three days, among other essentials.
The PRC stated that the public may call its 24/7 hotline, 143, for rescue and other emergency concerns.
As of 5 p.m., PAGASA located the center of “Kristine” 760 kilometers east of Catarman, Northern Samar. It has maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center, with gusts of up to 70 kph, and is moving westward at 15 kph.
“Kristine” could make landfall in the northern part of Luzon between Oct. 24 and Oct. 25, based on PAGASA’s latest forecast.