(Eagle News) — Severe tropical storm “Egay” has maintained its strength and was estimated in the vicinity of Flora, Apayao as of Sunday noon.
With maximum sustained winds of 95 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 120 kph, storm Egay is forecast to move west northwest at 9 kph. Because of its slow movement, it will exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Thursday morning.
It is estimated to exit the landmass via Cagayan Sunday evening (July 5).
Batanes, Cagayan including Calayan and Babuyan group of Islands, Apayao, Kalinga, Isabela, Ilocos Norte and Abra are under public storm signal number two.
Meanwhile, the provinces of Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Benguet, Ilocos Sur, Aurora, La Union, Mt. Province and Ifugao are placed under storm signal number one.
The Palace advised the public to monitor Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration’s (PAGASA) daily bulletin with regards to the Tropical Storm Egay for its safety.
Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said that by monitoring PAGASA’s announcements, communities affected by the typhoon could do the necessary preparations.
Once PAGASA made an announcement, local government units (LGUs) have anywhere between 10 to 18 hours lead time to carry out preemptive evacuation, Valte explained.
Asked about the national government’s instructions to the LGUs, Valte said: “Kapag sinabi po ng PAGASA na ito na ang storm signal at binigyan na kayo ng abiso ay sumunod na tayo at gumawa na ng preemptive evacuation at ihanda na po ang mga assets natin.”
She also said that the regional offices of the Department of Social Welfare and Development are also ready to release prepositioned relief goods should there be a need.
“Kasama po sa mga prepositioning natin ang mga gamot, galing po ito sa Department of Health at ihanda na rin po natin ‘yung mga clearing equipment kung kakailanin at siguraduhin po nating ligtas ang mga pagdadalhan po nating evacuation centers para naman po sa ating mga kababayan,” she said.
“Alam na po natin ‘yung proseso. Kailangan lang nating gumalaw nang mabilis kapag naibigay na po ng PAGASA ang abiso kung saan po dadaan at gaano po kalakas kung sakali ang bagyo.”
PAGASA said areas under signal number two would experience strong winds of 61-120kph within in 24 hrs. This would do:
- Light to Moderate damage to high risk structures;
• Very light to light damage to medium-risk structures;
• No damage to very light damage to low risk structures
• Unshielded, old dilapidated schoolhouses, makeshift shanties, and other structures of light materials are partially damaged or unroofed.
• A number of nipa and cogon houses may be partially or totally unroofed.
• Some old galvanized iron (G.I.) roofs may be peeled or blown off.
• Some wooden, old electric posts are tilted or downed.
• Some damage to poorly constructed signs/billboards
• In general, the winds may bring light to moderate damage to the exposed communities. Most banana plants, a few mango trees, ipil-ipil and similar types of trees are downed or broken
• Some coconut trees may be tilted with few others broken
• Rice and corn may be adversely affected
• Considerable damage to shrubbery and trees with some heavy-foliaged trees blown down. - Open Sea Wave Height: 4.1-14.0m
- Storm surge possible at coastal areas.
Areas under Public Storm Warning Signal No. 1 would experience 30 to 60 kph. The wind’s impact would have these effects:
- Very light or no damage to high risk structures,
• Light damage to medium to low risk structures
• Slight damage to some houses of very light materials or makeshift structures in exposed communities. Some banana plants are tilted, a few downed and leaves are generally damaged
• Twigs of small trees may be broken.
• Rice crops, however, may suffer significant damage when it is in its flowering stage. - Open Sea Wave Height: 1.25-4.0 meters