Super-typhoon Juan hits North

Some panicked, other were fine with it. But as we all know, some things happen when we least expect it.

As careful reviewed by PAGASA to land within 10am-12nn in Cagayan Province and will exit Ilocos Norte by midnight , Super-typhoon Juan comes with winds of 260 kilometers per hour.

It has been reported earlier that weather bureau tagged Signal No. 4 to Cagayan and Isabela after Juan intensified to a super-typhoon. Signal No. 4 is the highest warning signal used by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

And that PAGASA said the last time the country declared Signal No. 4 was in 2006, when “Reming” battered the Bicol region. Reming had gusts of 320 kph.

Signal No. 3 was raised over Batanes, Calayan and Babuyan Group of Islands, Apayao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya and northern Aurora.

Signal No. 2 was hoisted over Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Abra, La Union, Benguet and the rest of Aurora.

Aside from Metro Manila, Signal No. 1 was placed over Pangasinan, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Polillio Island, Cavite, Bulacan, Pampanga, Bataan, Zambales, Rizal and northern Quezon.

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PAGASA officer-in-charge Graciano Yumul Jr. said Metro Manila and other parts of southern Luzon will experience rains as it was now within the typhoon's rain band.

He also mentioned,"Just because it's Signal No. 1, it doesn't mean that we should not be prepared. Manila was only under Signal No. 1 during (Tropical Storm) ‘Ondoy’" - referring to last year's storm (international name: Ketsana) that flooded 80 percent of the metropolis.

LEARNING FROM THE PAST

Though Nathaniel Servando, PAGASA administrator, said Juan might not be the last destructive typhoon to hit the Philippines in 2010, a La Niña year, the local government task no risk.

Almost 700 people has been evacuated to a safer place since Saturday in Isabela Province as per Ramos, executive director of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

Edna Junio, provincial social welfare and development officer, said local government and rescue teams had assisted residents living near rivers and coastlines transfer to evacuation centers.

Isabela Gov. Faustino Dy III ordered the delivery of relief goods to various towns on Saturday and Sunday, taking advantage of the good weather.

The Laoag City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council started mobilizing quick response teams in preparation for the typhoon.

Sirens at the Laoag City Hall were also sounded each time the weather bureau raised storm signals.

In the Cordillera Administrative Region, a warm Sunday greeted Baguio and Benguet barangay candidates, who included tips about storm preparation in their campaign spiels.

Mayor Gregorio Abalos Jr. of La Trinidad, Benguet, met with local rescue officials about the condition of houses in Barangay Puguis, where a landslide triggered by last year’s Typhoon “Pepeng” (Parma) wiped out a section of the community of Little Kibungan.

In Nueva Ecija province, a sunny day frustrated farmers as they eagerly awaited rains from Juan that would feed their rice farms.

As for all of us, this is still a call for prayers.

Source: Inquirer.net and MUP (ABS-CBN)