Western Visayas classified as high risk due to ‘TS Odette’

All areas in Western Visayas have been classified as high-risk due to Tropical Storm Odette (still outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility).

Due to the high-risk levels of the two cities and six provinces in the region, the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) directed all local DRRMCs to activate “Charlie Protocol”.

According to the Office of the Civil Defense 6 (OCD-6), Charlie protocol is under the extreme risk category and entails utmost preparations for projected high impacts due to high-risk levels.

“With reference to the agreements during the Pre-Disaster Risk Assessment (PDRA) Meeting for Tropical Depression Odette conducted on December 13, 2021, the RDRRMC Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR) Protocol is hereby activated to Charlie Protocol,” Ma. Aletha Nogra, officer-in-charge of OCD-6, said in a memorandum issued on Monday.

Under Charlie Protocol, OCD is mandated to activate DRRMC emergency operations center and raise red alert status and disseminate warning messages, advisories, and relevant directives.

Meanwhile, science and technical agency are required to conduct regular hazard briefing to the DRRMC. The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) is mandated to direct LGUs to initiate work suspension as needed and reiterate instructions for pre-emptive evacuation and forced evacuation as needed.

Based on the latest advisory issued by PAGASA on 5 p.m. of Monday, December 13, 2021, Tropical Depression which is outside the PAR has intensified into Tropical Storm “Rai”.

The center of the Tropical Storm “RAI” was estimated based on all available data at 1,630 km East of Mindanao (5.7°N, 140.5°E) (outside the PAR)

It is moving West northwestward with a maximum sustained winds of 65 km/h near the center, gustiness up to 80 km/h, and central pressure of 998 hectopascal (hPa).

The tropical storm will most likely enter the PAR region as a severe tropical storm on Tuesday evening. Once inside PAR, the tropical cyclone will be named “Odette”.

The tropical storm may make landfall in the vicinity of Caraga or Eastern Visayas by Thursday afternoon or evening. (ERS)