PAGASA: Heed public storm signals

In a bid to mitigate loss of lives and damage to property during severe weather conditions, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) is reminding the public to heed storm warning signals issued before and during the onslaught of storms or typhoons.

"The public storm warning signals are meant to give the public enough lead time to prepare for the coming severe weather conditions," Venus Valdemoro, officer-in-charge of the PAGASA Public Information and International Affairs Staff (PIIAS), told The STAR.

The impact of severe weather conditions are expected to be felt within 36 hours after issuance of the public storm warning signals, Valdemoro said.

The storm warning signals, which are based on global standards set by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), emphasize the potential impact of the winds, she said.

According to Valdemoro, under Public Storm Warning Signal No. 1, areas to be affected by the tropical cyclone are expected to experience winds of 30 to 60 kilometers per hour (kph).

"The potential impact of 30-60 kph winds are the following: twigs and branches of small trees may be broken; some banana plants may tilt or land flat on the ground; rice in flowering stage may suffer significant damage; and some nipa and cogon houses partially unroofed," Valdemoro said, adding travel of small sea vessels and fishing boats is risky in areas where Signal No. 1 has been raised.

Under Public Storm Warning Signal No. 2, areas to be affected by the tropical cyclone are expected to experience winds of 61 to 100 kilometers per hour.

Valdemoro pointed out that such winds can cause moderate damage to agriculture, adversely affect rice and corn crops, uproot a few large trees, blow away or partially destroy roofs of a large number of nipa and cogon houses, and may cause some galvanized iron roofing to roll off.