SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union (PIA) — The province of La Union is under a red alert status in preparation for the possible onslaught of typhoon Carina in the area.
In an online interview on July 23, Rowan Joshua Dimaculangan, provincial information officer of the provincial government of La Union (PGLU), said the province’s Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) has already prepositioned rescue equipment and personnel in the province’s landslide and flood-prone areas.
PDRRMO has ambulances, rescue vehicles, jet skis, one rescue truck, and rubber boat that are already prepositioned to ensure swift response to weather-related emergencies.
Food items, medicines and hygiene kits are also on standby.
He reiterated that the La Union PDRRMO has already alerted the local government units as the provincial government has readily prepared the evacuation centers and relief goods.
“We also tap the Philippine Coast Guard, Bureau of Fire Protection, La Union Police Provincial Office as well as the Police Regional Office, and the Philippine Red Cross as our partners which also assist whenever there is a typhoon and with our municipalities, and of course our media agencies just like PIA for disseminating information,” Dimaculangan added.
The municipality of San Juan, known as the surfing spot in the province, has ordered the temporary closure of rivers and beaches on July 23 in anticipation of the possible impacts of typhoon Carina.
Beaches and rivers within the territorial jurisdiction of the towns of Bangar, San Gabriel, Bacnotan, Naguilian, and Balaoan were also temporarily closed on the same date until further notice.
Swimming, surfing, and other water activities in all rivers and seas remain prohibited.
The PDRRMO also reminds the public to be prepared for the prevailing effects of the typhoon.
“Aside from waiting for the announcement, let’s get ready for emergency GO bags, chargers, water, extra pair of clothes, medicines or whatever we need for when we have to evacuate and hopefully we don’t have to evacuate,” he said.
On July 24, the towns of Balaon, Bangar, Luna, Tubao, San Gabriel, Bagulin, and San Fernando City have declared class suspensions for private and public schools. Meanwhile, work suspensions in public and private offices in Balaoan, Luna, Bagulin, Naguilian, San Gabriel, San Fernando City, Bacnotan, and San Juan were also declared on July 23.
In addition, some 162 families or 475 individuals in San Fernando City and the towns of Agoo, Bauang, Caba, and Naguilian were affected due to the weather disturbance, of which 58 families with 142 individuals are being served inside five evacuation centers while 104 families composed of 333 individuals are being served outside evacuation centers.
In a PAGASA weather bulletin issued at 11:00 a.m. on July 24, the weather bureau reported that the eye of Typhoon Carina was estimated at 345 km north northeast of Itbayat, Batanes, with maximum sustained winds of 165 kph near the center and gusts reaching up to 205 kph. (MJTAB/KJCR, PIA La Union)
