Prepare for bomb cyclone, Filipinos in US Northeast told

FILE/Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Logo (PNA Photo)

MANILA — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) advised all Filipinos in New England and other parts of the Northeast United States to observe safety precautions ahead of a bomb cyclone or strong snowstorm that is expected to affect the area on Thursday.

In a statement, the agency said at least 340,000 Filipinos could be affected by the bomb cyclone, a meteorological phenomenon called “bombogenesis” or area of rapidly declining low pressure.

The DFA said the bomb cyclone is expected to bring hurricane-force winter winds and from six to 12 inches of snow in the New England states and from three to six inches of snow in the New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut areas.

“Our kababayans residing in or visiting the Northeastern US are advised to observe the necessary precautions, avoid non-essential travel, and have emergency contact numbers in preparation for this extreme weather situation,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Cayetano said.

He also advised Filipinos in the affected areas to closely monitor weather reports and to heed instructions from local authorities.

For her part, Consul General Maria Theresa Dizon-De Vega said the Philippine Consulate General in New York has issued an advisory to the Filipino community in the northeast.

She said volunteers under the Consulate General’s Warden System have been alerted to monitor weather conditions and to report any emergencies to the Consulate.

As per the diplomat, there are 35,000 Filipinos in the New England states of Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont, which will be most impacted by the weather disturbance.

Most of the US is already battling arctic weather conditions since late December, while parts of usually warmer regions like the Southeast are experiencing historic low-temperature ranges, freezing rain, and snow. (PNA)