San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora said the city government is fully prepared to respond to any threats of Tropical Storm Kristine as it closes in on the region on Wednesday, October 23.
"Pre-disaster risk assessments have been conducted by the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO), and the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) has carried out tree-cutting operations and cleared waterways to minimize hazards. All pumping stations are fully operational to manage flood risks. The City Social Welfare and Development Office has also prepared the main evacuation center at the San Juan Gym," Zamora said.
Rescue equipment and vehicles such as rescue boats, life vests, and emergency response and rescue vehicles have also been put on standby as well as responders from the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Philippine National Police (PNP), Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine Navy, Reservists, and the Philippine Army.
"Our 24/7 Operations Center is actively monitoring the situation, and the public address system has alerted flood-prone barangays about the incoming storm and necessary preparedness measures. All CDRRMO teams—Alpha, Bravo, and Charlie—are on standby, and Barangay DRRMs have been informed of the updated situation," he added.
Based on the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration's (PAGASA) 8 a.m. bulletin, 26 areas have been placed under tropical cyclone wind Signal No. 2 while 33 areas were placed under Signal No. 1 due to the storm.
Kristine has maximum sustained winds of 85 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gusts reaching up to 105 kph.
The storm’s center was located 310 kilometers east of Baler, Aurora, and is expected to move west-northwestward at 15 kph.
PAGASA said Kristine could make landfall in Isabela or northern Aurora on Wednesday evening, or Thursday morning, Oct. 24, potentially as a severe tropical storm.