Tuguegarao City, Cagayan – With the threat of nearby Super Typhoon Henry and Tropical Depression Gardo merging, Governor Marilou Cayco said on Wednesday, August 31, that Batanes has already prepared and that their island province is now ‘ready.’
Governor Cayco told national media that she has already convened with both provincial and municipal disaster teams as early as Tuesday this week to guarantee safety of all locals as well as security of all affected sectors.
Cayco added that the island province’s government has handed out window boards as well as ropes for houses of locals and local establishments.
As the area of Batanes and Extreme Northern Luzon is a known path for tropical cyclones, Ivatans and locals are used to preparing their structures prior to typhoons and are known to be resilient during such usual disasters.
The Governor also bared that the national government has also made available around 5,000 relief packs which have already been started distribution per municipality.
She also made sure to caution local fishermen not to set out to sea this week while sending on-ground authorities to check and ensure that their boats are kept in safe areas.
The Oncoming Storms
Pagasa said early on Thursday, Sept 1, that Super Typhoon #HenryPH has maintained its strength while moving southwestward over the Philippine Sea.
The super typhoon was last detected 530kms east northeast of Itbayat, Batanes packing an intensity of 185kph with gusts reaching 230kph.
According to the state weather bureau, ‘Henry’ is not seen to make landfall in the country.
Meanwhile, Tropical Depression #GardoPH has also retained its intensity as it moves northwestward east northeast of Extreme Northern Luzon.
TD Gardo was last seen 885 km East Northeast of Extreme Northern Luzon early on Thursday with maximum sustained winds of 55kph near the center, gusts of up to 70 kph, and central pressure of 1000 hPa.
The tropical depression is moving generally Northwestward at 45 km/h and is also unlikely to directly affect the weather condition for the meantime.
Both storms are expected to merge due to the larger circulation of ‘Henry’ rendering ‘Gardo’ to weaken back to a Low Pressure Area within 12 hours. TNF