'Uwan' nears the Philippines: What families should do before it hits
MANILA, Philippines — As Cebu reels from the devastation of Typhoon "Tino", which has claimed nearly 200 lives, another cyclone is building near the Philippines and could intensify into a super typhoon. How can Filipino households brace for another storm?
PAGASA forecasts that Severe Tropical Storm "Fung-Wong" will enter the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) early Saturday, November 8, when it will be called "Uwan" locally. The storm is expected to strengthen into a typhoon and intensify further by Sunday, November 9, as it tracks northwestward towards Luzon.
The highest alert level, Wind Signal No. 5, may be raised with a 12-hour warning lead time. This means severe to catastrophic damage is expected in affected areas, especially to weaker structures, and even solidly built homes or industrial buildings could be destroyed.
So, what can Filipino households do for now? Disaster scientist Mahar Lagmay, executive director of the University of the Philippines Resilience Institute and Project NOAH, said households must prepare for two major threats: powerful winds and intense rainfall.
For strong winds, households are advised to immediately reinforce their roofs and trim nearby tree branches that could fall onto their homes. If a house is already unsafe and cannot be repaired within days, Lagmay said it is best to evacuate early and follow the advisories of their local government.
With heavy rains and widespread flooding expected, Lagmay urged families to assess the hazards in their communities using available tools such as Project NOAH. By entering their location, residents can view maps showing hazard levels and the potential risks in their area, including floods, landslides and storm surges.
Project NOAH also provides safety guidelines for each hazard. In high flood-risk areas, for instance, residents are advised to evacuate when necessary, wear protective gear like boots when wading through floodwaters, avoid driving through moving water, and switch off electrical appliances and the main power source.
Households should also keep a go-bag with copies of their essential documents (i.e., IDs), medicines, a hygiene kit, a flashlight, and food and water.
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Lagmay also recommended using UP NOAH’s impact-based forecasting tool, NOAH Studio, which the site describes as offering “a more granular assessment of natural hazards in a wider area.”
He said the tool can predict which areas are likely to experience flooding based on available weather forecasts. During Typhoon Tino, NOAH Studio accurately identified the areas in Cebu that were later inundated.
Lagmay explained that areas or roads not marked with a color on the hazard maps are considered relatively safe and can serve as temporary evacuation sites or routes for households seeking to avoid danger. Aside from landslides and floods, families should also look out for storm surge warnings, especially for those living in coastal communities.
He also cautioned against traveling during the storm, noting that landslides could block or bury roads. He also said residents should expect dam gates to be opened to release excess water as reservoirs fill up.
Aside from PAGASA, Filipinos could seek updates from their local government, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, Office of Civil Defense and the Department of Interior and Local Government.
The state weather bureau gives regular updates every three hours starting 2 a.m. each day.
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