DISASTER READINESS AND RISK REDUCTION

A RESEARCH ON THE LATEST WEATHER

1st QUARTER: 1st SEMISTER

Submitted by: Jhon Iverson L. Suing

Submitted to: Jose Ibarra

something wrong about the weather. But when some of the old ones experience

a rain for a long period of time here is what they say, “ May Bagyo”. Before

the introductory part of this research, let’s introduce first the difference

between tropical depression, storm, tropical storm and tropical cyclone. A

tropical depression forms when a low pressure area is accompanied by

thunderstorms that produce a circular wind flow with maximum sustained

winds below 39 mph. While, a storm is any disturbed state of an environment

or in an astronomical body's atmosphere especially affecting its surface, and

strongly implying severe weather. It may be marked by significant disruptions

to normal conditions such as strong wind, tornadoes, hail, thunder and lightning

(a thunderstorm), heavy precipitation (snowstorm, rainstorm), heavy freezing

rain (ice storm), strong winds (tropical cyclone, windstorm), or wind

transporting some substance through the atmosphere as in a dust storm,

blizzard, sandstorm, etc. Then once a tropical depression has intensified to the

point where its maximum sustained winds are between 35-64 knots (39-73

mph), it becomes a tropical storm. It is at this time that it is assigned a name.

During this time, the storm itself becomes more organized and begins to

become more circular in shape -- resembling a hurricane. The rotation of a

tropical storm is more recognizable than for a tropical depression. Tropical

storms can cause a lot of problems even without becoming a hurricane.

However, most of the problems a tropical storm cause stem from heavy
rainfall. And last, Tropical cyclone, also called typhoon or hurricane, an intense

circular storm that originates over warm tropical oceans and is characterized by

low atmospheric pressure, high winds, and heavy rain. Drawing energy from

the sea surface and maintaining its strength as long as it remains over warm

water, a tropical cyclone generates winds that exceed 119 km (74 miles) per

hour. In extreme cases winds may exceed 240 km (150 miles) per hour, and

gusts may surpass 320 km (200 miles) per hour. Accompanying these strong

winds are torrential rains and a devastating phenomenon known as the storm

surge, an elevation of the sea surface that can reach 6 metres (20 feet) above

normal levels. Such a combination of high winds and water makes cyclones a

serious hazard for coastal areas in tropical and subtropical areas of the world.

Every year during the late summer months (July–September in the Northern

Hemisphere and January–March in the Southern Hemisphere), cyclones strike

regions as far apart as the Gulf Coast of North America, northwestern

Australia, and eastern India and Bangladesh. Tropical cyclones are known by

various names in different parts of the world. In the North Atlantic Ocean and

the eastern North Pacific they are called hurricanes, and in the western North

Pacific around the Philippines, Japan, and China the storms are referred to as

typhoons. In the western South Pacific and Indian Ocean they are variously

referred to as severe tropical cyclones, tropical cyclones, or simply cyclones.

All these different names refer to the same type of storm (PAGASA).

We remember that the PAGASA declared the start of the rainy season

last June 14. These days we feel the rainy season that they called. This August
the rain starts to fall done several times a day so other people that don’t even

watch television or people doesn’t have updates about the weather thought that

there is a typhoon that’s why it’s raining. But the fact is, according to

PAGASA or the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical

Services Administration, there is what we call tropical depression that develop

into tropical storm, that the cause of rain in some part of our country.

This tropical storm Hanna with an international name Lekima issued last

August 4, 2019 around 7:00 am when it enter the Philippine Areas of

Responsibility (PAR). Tropical Storm (TS) HANNA upgraded from Tropical

Depression and Tropical Disturbance (LPA) respectively over the past 24

hours. It is known globally as LEKIMA, named after a unique Vietnamese

Tree whose fruit has only one seed surrounded by yellow pulp which looks like

yolk. This storm has been moving very slowly westward across the Philippine

Sea…could threaten Batanes and Babuyan Island Group on Thursday, Aug 08.

Tropical storm LEKIMA (HANNA) together with the active Monsoon

Trough will continue to enhance the Southwest Monsoon (Habagat) and bring

generally cloudy conditions with “on-&-off” rains and thunderstorms across

MiMaRoPa and the Western Sections of Luzon and Visayas today through

Wednesday (Aug 07).

As of 5:00 AM PhT monday, August 05…2100 GMT. The center was

located over the southernmost part of the North Philippine Sea [near 18.4°N

130.3°E], about 866 km east of Santa Ana, Cagayan or 1,082 km east-northeast

near the center, with gustiness: 85 kph. Move towards the Western Part of the

North Philippine Sea.

Discussion

The 4-Day Forecast (Aug 06-09) has changed over the past 24 hours and

now shows TS LEKIMA (HANNA) becoming a Typhoon on Thursday (Aug

08) as it tracks generally Northwestward, and could make landfall over

Northern Taiwan on Friday morning (Aug 09) with medium to high

uncertainty. Forecast confidence at this time is at MEDIUM to LOW (65% to

<35% chance).

Tropical Storm Lekima (Hanna) is likely to exit the northwestern border

of the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Friday afternoon, Aug 09.

The presence of this Tropical Cyclone and the Monsoon Trough will continue

to enhance the Southwest Monsoon (Habagat) and could bring generally cloudy

skies with occasional rains, some gusty winds and thunderstorms across

MiMaRoPa and the western sections of Luzon and Visayas including Metro

Manila through Wednesday (Aug 07). On that day it was advised that severe

thunderstorms may also occur across these areas which could cause flash

floods and landslides. Precautionary measures must be implemented during the

occurrence of this monsoon system.

Severe Tropical Storm Hanna (Lekima) slightly strengthened further on

Tuesday afternoon, August 6, as it continued to enhance the southwest

Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration

(PAGASA) said Hanna now has maximum winds of 100 kilometers per hour

(km/h) from the previous 95 km/h and gustiness of up to 125 km/h from the

previous 115 km/h. It is expected to intensify into a typhoon within 24 hours.

Hanna is now 780 kilometers east of Calayan, Cagayan, moving north

northwest at 10 km/h after staying almost stationary for most of the day. Hanna

is still not expected to make landfall in the Philippines, but Signal No. 1 might

be raised in extreme Northern Luzon. The severe tropical storm also continues

to enhance the southwest monsoon, which is still affecting Luzon and the

Visayas. Here is the latest list of areas affected by the enhanced southwest

monsoon last tuesday.

Tuesday night, August 6, until Wednesday, August 7

Moderate to heavy monsoon rain

Mimaropa

Zambales

Bataan

Western Visayas
Scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms

Rest of Central Luzon

Metro Manila

Cagayan Valley

Cordillera Administrative Region

Bicol

Calabarzon

Rest of the Visayas

On that day flash floods and landslides remain possible in areas affected by the

enhanced southwest monsoon. (READ: FAST FACTS: Tropical cyclones,

rainfall advisories)

PAGASA also warned fishermen and others with small vessels on that day not

to venture out into the seaboards of Luzon and the Visayas as well as the

northern and eastern seaboards of Mindanao.

This tropical storm continue to enhance its speed all throughout the

week but last August 9, 2019 it leave the PAR. And even though it leave the

Philippine Areas of Responsibility, the rain still occurring due to habagat in our

country. This tropical storm give disturbance to us because many classes was

suspended because of the bad weather, many flight was also suspended because

they are not allowed to travel due to bad weather and other disturbance.
 The suspension of classes and travel are done to avoid greater cause of

this kind of scenario. They do that to avoid casualties. By the help of PAGASA

the political personnel in each places and the people leave there monitor the

tropical storm until it go out to the PAR. Some also of the prone flooded area

monitor the water level systematically that’s why there is no much report about

the floods.

Through the monitor of PAGASA and forecast of different TV shows

and Radio channel, and also due to the cooperation of everyone, there is no

much casualties happened and the risk was minimize.

Conclusion

Every year there are so many events happened to our country that may

develop into a disaster. Both natural and man-made events can be a disaster it

depends on how we handle it. Through the help of technology, the risks that

may happen are lessening. For example, through the weather forecast a normal

person can monitor the movement of the typhoon or the weather of the country.

If there is a typhoon, they can also know when it will leave the PAR and they

can also know the warning and things to do due to this kind of scenario. By our

cooperation, and other organization, we cannot totally eradicate the risk but we

can minimize it so every day we should cooperate so that we can minimize our

everyday risk. Yes, we cannot easily change our whole future but we can

control our present to change some events in our future.

 We should follow the weather forecast everyday so that we are updated

on what is going on our environment.

 If there is a warning, we should follow what they say so that we will

minimize the risk.

 We should mentally ready for different kind of scenario so that we can

avoid panic and greater casualties.

 We should always ready our emergency kit.

 If there is a need of evacuation, we should evacuate so that the possible

disaster will be avoided.

 We should know the trusted sources of information about a particular

event.

 We should also help for those who needs (like the victims of typhoons.

You can donate thing, food or money that they can use) because in this

planet there are no other than that will help us human.

 And last, plant more trees and takes care of our environment, yes, it is

simple but less done 1/8 of the population only follows this. Remember

that we have only one earth and if this will be destroy their will be no

other one.
References

 PAGASA weather Forecast

 ABS-CBN news TV

 Youtube

 DOST PAGASA

 GMA news TV

 RAPPLER