EDITORIAL - Caught flat-footed

People especially in Marikina compared the heavy rainfall and torrential flooding to what was unleashed by Tropical Storm Ondoy in late September 2009. The stories and images were familiar: cars being swept away by floods in Manila; floodwaters rising so quickly people could not flee in time to safer ground, and were instead forced to scramble to the second floor or the rooftops of their homes. At the Quezon City Science Garden, the amount of rainfall reportedly even surpassed what was experienced during the onslaught of Ondoy.

After experiencing so many powerful and destructive typhoons, you’d think the country – especially the National Capital Region – would be better prepared for tropical cyclones. The calamity that began on Monday, however, clearly shows that disaster preparedness needs a lot more work. The NCR and neighboring areas were caught flat-footed by the monsoons.

Improvements can start in the weather warning system. People didn’t think Typhoon Carina posed any serious threat; it was not expected to make landfall, and the highest storm warning signal upon its approach was signal No. 2, hoisted in Northern Luzon. The National Capital Region was not placed even under Signal No. 1.

Storm warning signals, however, are based on a cyclone’s wind speed. Not sufficiently emphasized or explained was the threat posed by Carina in enhancing the habagat or southwest monsoon, which typically brings heavy rainfall. And what heavy rainfall it was, with the Marikina River rising above 20 meters as of yesterday afternoon, and several dams in Luzon forced to release water.

Color-coded rainfall warnings rang out regularly on cell phones, but these were issued in real time by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. By the time the warnings were released, people were already stranded or scrambling to the safety of higher ground as floodwaters rose rapidly. Late yesterday afternoon, as Carina approached Taiwan, it was classified as a “super typhoon” by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration.

PAGASA officials stressed that the heavy rainfall and floods were spawned by the monsoon rather than Carina. Two questions cropped up as the casualty count went up and Metro Manila was placed under a state of calamity: what happened to flood control projects, and isn’t there a better warning system for heavy monsoon-induced rainfall?

Senators are set to conduct an inquiry into the flood control program. Whether the inquiry will amount to any significant improvements in flood control remains to be seen. As for monsoon-induced cataclysmic rainfall and flooding, there must be existing science and technology to provide accurate and timely warnings. Or else weather experts can fine-tune their coordination with local government units, so that monsoon warnings will be properly appreciated for disaster preparedness.