Tacloban City (CNN Philippines, December 13) — Disaster response officials in Eastern Visayas are heading off a buildup in ports and terminals due to an incoming storm by cancelling land travel effective 8 a.m. on Dec. 14.
READ: Tropical depression outside PH intensifies into tropical storm — PAGASA
The move is to prevent the unwanted surge of passengers and vehicles in ports and terminals because of the cancellation of sea trips due to an expected turn in weather conditions.
The advisory, however, will not affect those who are already in transit during the said period.
PAGASA said Tropical Storm Rai, last located east of Mindanao, will enter the country as a severe tropical storm tomorrow evening. It will then be named “Odette” and may hit land in Caraga or the Eastern Visayas region on Thursday.
Several local government units in the region have already cautioned residents on the impending storm.
Arteche, Eastern Samar Mayor Roland Boie Evardone also issued an advisory on Sunday to advise his constituents to prepare for the coming weather disturbance.
On Monday morning, Ormoc City held a pre-disaster risk assessment meeting to prepare for “Odette.”
In Tacloban City, the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office placed the city under “blue alert” status starting 1 a.m. of Dec. 14. The DRMMO councils in each barangay are ordered to submit their preparedness measures, including their emergency response.
They are also expected to do pre-emptive evacuation, especially in areas considered as high risk, and make proper coordination with the CDRRMO.
CNN Philippines’ Pia Garcia contributed to this report.
