PRC prepares for typhoon ‘Ruby’

Photo courtesy of the Philippine Red Cross’ Facebook page

MANILA — The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) said Thursday that it is now under red alert status and fully prepared after it directed all its chapters in typhoon “Ruby’s” forecast paths to make all vital preparations to assist those that will be affected by the howler.

PRC Chairman Richard Gordon said that the Red Cross chapters and its 143 volunteers in the path of typhoon Ruby were already directed to be alert 24 hours a day and be prepared for any untoward incidents.

“We enjoin staff and volunteers of Red Cross chapters based in Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao to be alert 24 hours a day and continue to monitor their respective areas. We should always be prepared to act immediately for any untoward incident, and to always keep in mind the 4 P’s that are vital steps towards safety and disaster resilience: Predict, Plan, Prepare, and Practice,“ Gordon said.

He said that ”the impact of the typhoon can be lessened through an improved and systematic implementation of disaster risk reduction programs and practices.”

Gordon said that all can help reduce the damage caused by natural hazards like typhoons and floods through a culture of prevention.

He also added that PRC rescue equipment, rubber boats, generator sets, fuel and vehicles were in stand by position for possible operation or deployment.

He also advised residents along Ruby’s path to prepare to evacuate immediately to prevent injury or death, and not to endanger the rescuers as well like what happened in previous typhoons.

“We have to learn from our experience in typhoon Yolanda and Pablo, and other natural disasters, to prevent loss of life,“ he added.

“We will monitor, coordinate and report status of evacuees, overflow of dams, landslides, flooding incidents and general conditions to the PRC National Headquarters Operation Center,” Gordon added.

Meanwhile, PRC Secretary General Gwendolyn Pang said that additional emergency supplies are being provided to PRC chapters.

“PRC staff and volunteers are also starting to pack relief items such as food, sleeping items and hygiene kits to be distributed to areas that may be affected,“ Pang said.

She added that the PRC is coordinating for the prepositioning of food items (rice, canned goods, sugar, salt, cooking oil) for 15,000 families to be handed over to the PRC chapters that would need urgent support for response operation.

She also assured that non-food items such as laundry soap, bath soap, jerry cans, kitchen sets and tarpaulins will also be sent.