December 2

On December 2, the NDRRMC put parts of the central and southeastern Philippines on high alert. Relief
food and medicines had been pre-positioned while thousands of people along the country's eastern
border were being prepared for evacuation to safer ground in preparation for the typhoon.] With Bopha
expected to strike Mindanao and Visayas, as well as areas in Southern Tagalog and Metro Manila, the
possibility of landslides was advised in Surigao, Davao, Compostela Valley, Misamis, Bukidnon, Lanao del
Norte, Lanao del Sur, Zamboanga, Leyte, Cebu, Bohol, Negros, Panay and Mindoro. Government-run
radio station dzRB, in its regular Sunday press briefing, aired deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail
Valte's call on all responsible government agencies, the media, non-government volunteer groups and
volunteers to do their part in preparing for the typhoon. "Keep updated on the bulletins from PAGASA.
Always cooperate with the local authorities as the National Government is all ready to provide all
assistance to those that may be affected," Valte said. Also, disaster authorities in Bicol were alerted and
getting ready with their disaster contingency plan as the typhoon was closing in

Damage

The amount of property damaged by typhoon “Pablo” has risen to almost P37 billion, exceeding those of
strong weather disturbances that ravaged the country recently.

Pablo has destroyed P36.95 billion worth of infrastructure, agricultural products and private properties
as of Tuesday, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said.

The agriculture sector was the hardest hit with P26.53 billion worth of damage. The amount of damage
in infrastructure and private properties totaled P7.57 billion and P2.86 billion, respectively.

The total cost of damage rose by P2 billion from last Monday after the NDRRMC had received updated
reports from disaster management officers in Davao. These reports contained additional data about
affected private properties and health facilities.

The amount of property damage caused by Pablo is way higher than that of tropical storm “Ondoy” (P11
billion) and typhoons “Pepeng” (P27.3 billion), “Pedring” (P15.55 billion) and “Sendong” (P2.07 billion).

Pablo also damaged a total of 216,817 houses in Ilocos, Mimaropa, Western Visayas, Central Visayas,
Northern Mindanao, Davao and SOCCSKSARGEN regions.
The death toll from the typhoon stayed at 1,067 while 834 persons are still missing. The typhoon has
also left 2,666 persons injured and has affected 6.24 million persons or 711,682 families.

NDRRMC said 3,011 families or 13,940 persons are still inside 87 evacuation centers nationwide.

The government’s search teams composed of personnel from Coast Guard, the Armed Forces of the
Philippines, Bureau of Fire Protection, and Philippine National Police are still in Davao to look for
survivors.

A total of 1,475 personnel and 1,536 air, land, and sea assets were involved in the operations, which
started as early as first week of December.

The amount of assistance provided by state agencies, local governments and humanitarian groups have
reached P258.83 million.

A total of 121 medical teams composed of 1,166 personnel and 107 technical teams have been
mobilized to attend to the needs of the victims.

Meanwhile, international humanitarian groups are scheduled to conduct relief operations in parts of
Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental this week.

The Humanitarian Response Consortium and Oxfam will visit New Bataan in Compostela Valley and
Boston and Cateel in Davao Oriental to provide emergency shelters and hygiene kits to affected
residents.

The relief teams will provide tents, tarps, ropes and hygiene kits to 8,000 families in Davao del Norte.
Water kits and portalets will also be given to about 3,000 households in Compostela Valley.
Before a Typhoon:

Help your family check and fix your house for any damage (especially the roofs and windows), so it can
withstand the strong winds.

Remind your family members to stock up an adequate food supply such as rice, canned goods, and
foods that would last even without refrigeration.

Stock up an adequate supply of drinking water, and water for cleaning or other purposes.

Prepare flashlights, batteries for flashlights and radio, candles and kerosene lamps, or other lighting
devices.

Prepare a first-aid kit.

Always monitor news about the typhoon, whether on television or radio. If the power is cut, keep a
radio on and tuned in to news.

Help check and clean your community drainage system and canals to prevent flood.

Check your electric posts to prevent accidents. If you notice some impending danger due to weak
electric posts that might fall, report this to the electric company so they can reinforce it right away.

Remind family members to cut all branches of trees around your house that could possibly fall on your
house.

Help check all electrical warnings.

Teach younger members of your family what to do during a typhoon.

Pack a bag with clothes, batteries, flashlight, water, canned goods and other necessities, in case you
have to evacuate.

During a Typhoon:

Stay calm and be alert.

Stay indoors. Postpone any plans of travels or errands.

Monitor the weather reports. Check what is happening around you.

When local authorities advise you to evacuate, do so. Move family pets and valuable to a safe place;
turn off gas valves, electricity and water, when safe to do so.
If you happen to be outdoors when a typhoon comes, (a) stay away from electric posts and wires; (b)
never stand under a lone tree in an open field to avoid being hit by lightning; (c) never fix your TV
antenna during a thunderstorm; (d) stay away from boats and from bodies of water; and (e) enter the
nearest safe shelter.

Avoid staying or going to low-lying and coastal areas that are prone to floods or storm surge.

Be ready to evacuate if necessary. Leave your house as soon as you realize you are not safe.

Boil drinking water or have some bottled water ready.

If you happen to be in a car or any land vehicle when the typhoon comes, you are usually safe, but not
when there is a flood.

If you roofs have very little vents where winds pass through, or sometimes, when the winds of a
typhoon are very strong, you may need to open a few windows in the opposite side of your house to let
the wind pass through.

Monitor flood reports and predictions.

Have a flood plan which everyone in the family will follow when necessary. Be prepared to act on your
food plan. Prepare a flood kit of essential items, just like your essentials for typhoons.

After a Typhoon:

Have a knowledgeable person inspect electrical wiring before using electrical appliances. It is usually
advisable not to use appliances immediately after a typhoon especially if your house got flooded.

Check for any damage, including water pipes, and help make necessary repairs as soon as possible.

Boil water before drinking it to avoid getting sick.

Wear slippers, shoes or other footwear, for protection from any sharp or pointed objects that might
have fallen.

Avoid electrical wires that have fallen.

Stay away from flood waters. They carry water-borne diseases. Many people who have survived a storm
but braved flood waters actually have been hospitalized, not just for injuries or diarrhea, but also to the
deadly leptospirosis. Leptospirosis is also known as Weil’s syndrome, and is caused by bacterial infection
when dirty water contaminated with animal urine (commonly rats) comes in contact with a person’s
unhealed wounds or scratches, newly pedicure nails, a person’s eyes, or with mucous membranes (like
in skin, nostrils, mouth, lips, eyelids, ears, genital area and anus).

Clean and clear everything damaged by the typhoon. -Stay in a safe place with a means of escape.