Western visayas: Local government units in Western Visayas are advised to evacuate communities in low-lying coastal areas to higher ground in anticipation of over three-meter-high storm surges that may be caused by Typhoon Tino (international name Kalmaegi). In a virtual meeting on Monday, Office of Civil Defense (OCD) director and Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council chair Raul Fernandez emphasized that evacuation centers should be located farther than five hundred meters from the coastline. “Activate for a tsunami. Consider this as a tsunami event,” he stated.
According to Philippines News Agency, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration (PAG-ASA) has reported that the surge could extend more than a kilometer from the coastal area. PAGASA weather forecaster Jan Baron noted during the meeting that storm surges are anticipated to affect the entire coastal area of Western Visayas, as the eye of the typhoon is forecasted to pass through the center of Panay, assuming its track remains unchanged. Stronger winds and rains are expected on the side of the eye, impacting coastal areas.
Meanwhile, Engineer Adeline Grace Torreda of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau indicated that rainfall accumulation is projected to range from 50 to 504 millimeters from November 2 to 5. She emphasized that all local government units in the region are likely to be affected by rainfall accumulation, which could potentially trigger flooding and landslides.
On the other hand, the Department of Social Welfare and Development has reported that a total of 93,864 family food packs have been prepositioned in 55 sites across the region. Aklan has 8,559 food packs; Antique, 17,350; Capiz, 36,402; Guimaras, 1,237; and Iloilo has 30,316. The agency was prepared to deploy additional prepositioned goods, but logistical constraints in the shipment of supplies from Cebu prevented this. “We were able to spread it strategically,” stated Claud Jan Marquez, head of the DSWD disaster response information and management section.
Based on the Global Spectral Model and Weather Research and Forecasting, 1,432,382 individuals and 97,433 poor families in the region could potentially be affected by the northeast monsoon, shear line, localized thunderstorms, and Typhoon Tino. As of 5 p.m., Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 3 has been issued over Guimaras and the eastern portion of Iloilo, while Signal No. 2 applies to Capiz, the rest of Iloilo, Aklan, and Antique.
