“A state-by-state look at the East Coast superstorm by the Associated Press – 15 minutes ago
“Hurricane Sandy is churning off the East Coast and is expected to join up with two other weather systems to create a huge and problematic storm affecting 50 million people. Here’s a snapshot of what is happening or expected, state by state.
“CAROLINAS: storm lashed barrier islands, several homes and businesses nearly inaccessible, about 90 miles off the coast, a tall ship carrying 17 people was in distress. CONNECTICUT: power outage increased quickly, hundreds without electricity, many Long Island residents heeded warnings, evacuated. DELAWARE: Hundreds fled to shelters, rough surf pounded the coast, water covered some roads. KENTUCKY: Snow expected in mountainous areas.MAINE: forecast: coastal flooding and beach erosion, utility crew brought for anticipated power failure. MARYLAND: Baltimore opening six shelters; several city intersections closed due to flood threats. Early voting canceled for Monday. MASSACHUSETTS: Utilities brought in for anticipated power failures, most schools and colleges canceled classes. NEW HAMPSHIRE: 100 National Guard soldiers on active duty, two shelters set up, some schools closed. NEW JERSEY: Sandy’s center to make landfall here late Monday. By daybreak, thousands of homes and businesses were without electricity. Thousands of people evacuated low-lying areas, many inland towns hit by flooding from storm Irene last year issued evacuation orders. NEW YORK: Many residents left low-lying flood evacuation zones, subway system shut down Sunday night, storm surge of 11 feet possible, highest of all coastal areas being hit by Sandy, New York Stock Exchange other U.S. financial markets shut down for at least the day, thousands of flights canceled at major airports. OHIO: Residents of low-lying areas and along Lake Erie told to watch for flooding; utilities anticipate high winds that could blow down trees and poles. Snow forecast in some areas. PENNSYLVANIA: Many schools closed, Philadelphia shut down mass transit system, hundreds of flights canceled, dozens took shelter at evacuation centers. Thousands of members of the National Guard ready for deployment. RHODE ISLAND: Several communities ordered mandatory evacuations, many schools closed for the day, big waves to cause floods along Narragansett Bay, which bisects the state, prep for long periods without electricity. TENNESSEE: Snow is expected in higher elevations, freeze warning issued, high winds expected. VIRGINIA: About 2,000 customers lacked power, about a million could ultimately lose electricity, many residents of Chincoteague Island, popular with tourists, shrugged off the idea of evacuation. VERMONT:state of emergency declared for access to National Guard troops. WASHINGTON DC: transit system shut down rail service for the first time since 2003, Smithsonian Institution closed for the day. WEST VIRGINIA: forecast: 2 to 3 feet snow in mountainous areas, and floods in some areas. Several shelters on standby, power crews prepped.”
(Updated 2:50pm). Command posts. Rescue. Rubber boats & trucks needed. There are enough valiant and brave rescue personnel, not enough safe transport.
Update 2:50pm (from inquirer.net). You may get in touch with the “rescue command post” nearest you, if you or anyone you know, need/ needs assistance. See list below:
“MANILA, Philippines—The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has set up six advanced command posts across Metro Manila to expedite the rescue operations in affected areas.
“These are:
“1. MMDA Edsa Timog Base
Commander Ryan Castaneda 0947-8193135 and 0932-8447413
AOR: Whole QC
“2. MMDA Aurora Katipunan Base
Commander: Eduard Gonzales 0917-5875458
AOR: Pasig, Marikina
“3. Malabon City Hall
Commander: Ed Avan 09065129676
AOR; Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela
“4. South Base
ACP: MMDA Base Alabang Viaduct near Metropolis
Commander: Dir. Alex Umagat 0918-9486017
AOR: Muntinlupa, Paranaque, Las Pinas
“5. Gwapotel, Roxas Boulevard (near DPWH bldg)
Commander: Dir. Amante Salvador 09228102355
AOR: Manila
“6. Central base at thge MMDA Flood Control Information Center
Commander; Dir. Lydia Domingo 09163975798
AOR: San Juan, Pasay, Taguig, Pateros, Mandaluyong, Makati
Rescue operations on-going. Government does not have enough equipment. Corporations, organizations, construction companies, that have six-by-six trucks, rubber boats, etc., are being asked to lend their equipment to the NDRRMC. Lives can still be saved.
[Actually, in a life-and-death emergency, of apocalyptic proportions, e.g., if there were an Ondoy-like flooding, if thousands were being swept by strong currents, and would certainly drown or would be buried alive if not rescued, the government, upon just compensation to the parties concerned, could legally use the nearest private resources if it were the only way to save those lives… but only in those dire circumstances. That situation is not upon us and hopefully will never be. There is time. Voluntary assistance can save the day — and, in the long-term, having enough comfortable and habitable evacuation centers with provisions and toilets for preemptive evacuation, enough rescue equipment, trained personnel, and a disaster-prepared populace.]
To be fair, PAGASA (the weather bureau), local government units, and media organizations, gave us a three-to-four hour heads-up. GMA News announced the red warning a few minutes after the PAGASA tweet, ABS-CBN cast the widest net of field reporters 24 hours ago and had a non-stop coverage since then. Good job by these organizations.
We learned.
(Preemptive evacuation, a little better than those of previous floodings; can still be improved with completion of the Noah Project and construction of more habitable evacuation centers. Rescue operations — another matter. Strategic, long-term relocation, another matter.)
breaking news as of 9pm PAGASA issued a red alert warning: low-lying areas, coastal towns & cities, CAMANAVA: Evacuate now
GMA News on Channel 24 at about 9:20pm through Jessica Soho announced that PAGASA, the weather bureau, just now issued a red alert warning. It means those in low-lying areas in coastal towns and in cities in the Metro, those in CAMANAVA, and those near rivers, should evacuate immediately.
Here’s from the PAGASA Twitter account:
PAGASA-DOST @dost_pagasa
RED WARNING SIGNAL: Issued at: 09:00 PM, 06 August 2012 (Monday) Target Areas: Metro Manila An accumulated(cont)
and the longer version of the PAGASA tweet:
“RED WARNING SIGNAL: Issued at: 09:00 PM, 06 August 2012 (Monday) Target Areas: Metro Manila
“An accumulated rainfall of 83.5mm was recorded over QC and 63.5mm over Marikina for the past 3hrs. Heavy to intense (10.0 to 30.0 mm/hr) rainfall over the rest of Metro Manila.
“Occasional Heavy to Intense (10.0 to 30.0 mm/hr) rainfall is expected over Metro Manila and most likely to continue for the next 3 hours.
“Flooding over low-lying areas and those located near the river channels
“Residents in high risk areas are advised to take precautionary measures and MONITOR the weather condition and WATCH OUT for the next warning.”
In detail, here’s what a red alert warning from PAGASA means:
“Red means “stop”. Better stop what you are doing now if PAGASA says your area is under a “red warning.” Evacuate.
(figure/image from gmanews.tv)”Think about the amount of rain at Typhoon Ondoy’s (Ketsana) peak when it hit the country on September 26, 2009. The recorded rainfall at that time was approximately 56 mm in an hour. According to PAGASA, if more than 30mm rain is observed in an hour, and is expected to continue in the next two hours, then low-lying areas are expected to experience serious flooding. Residents in areas that have low elevation, such as coastal towns and cities, the CAMANAVA (Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela) area, are advised to evacuate immediately.” (from gmanews.tv)
ang ibig sabihin po, kung nasa lugar po kayo na binaha nang grabe nuong Ondoy, maghanda-handa na raw po or mag-evacuate na ayon sa PAGASA — tawagan or kontakin ang inyong barangay captain or city mayor.
