Attachments
Situation Analysis
On 16 October 2016, at 2:30 AM, Typhoon Sarika (locally known as Karen) made landfall over Baler, Aurora with maximum sustained winds of 150 km per hour and gustiness of up to 210 km per hour, and moved west across the Luzon mainland before heading out to the sea west of the Philippines. By morning of 17 October, Typhoon Sarika had exited the PAR, according to PAGASA.
At Sarika’s peak, Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal (TCWS) number 3 was raised in 11 provinces, TCWS number 2 in 10 provinces and Metro Manila, and TCWS number 1 raised in 12 provinces.
According to the NDRRMC, a total of 70,169 families (300,396 person) were affected in 6 regions in I, II, III, CALABARZON, V and CAR.
According to government data, 12,777 houses were damaged, of which, 11,356 are partially damaged and 1,421 are totally damaged. Furthermore, damage to agriculture sector amounted to PHP 3.6 billion (approximately CHF 74 million) while damage to infrastructure stands at around PHP 226 million (approximately CHF 4.6 million).
Summary of Current Response
Overview of Host National Society
Since Sarika entered PAR, PRC’s operation centre (OpCen), which functions 24/7, was monitoring the weather disturbance and was disseminating advisories from PAGASA and NDRRMC to chapters in areas that were likely to be affected. Trained and well-equipped staff and volunteers were deployed in areas affected by Sarika prior and after its landfall.
Prompt action from PRC included the conduct of rapid assessments through the mobilization of chapters’ staff and volunteers to validate the effect of the typhoon. Impact of the typhoon to infrastructure and livelihoods were also assessed, among others.
From the findings, a response plan was developed and in support to PRC preparedness work, IFRC approved a CHF 169,011 DREF allocation on 19 October 2016 to augment the resources and capacity of the National Society to respond to the immediate needs on the ground following Sarika’s landfall.