PHL Red Cross on full alert for 'Chedeng'

Philippine Red Cross (PRC) chapters in Luzon have been placed on full alert and tasked to deploy their amphibious vehicles, rubber boats, ambulances, and other assets to respond to the threat tropical storm ‘Chedeng.’ PRC chairman Richard Gordon said over 500 volunteers are closely monitoring the situation in their areas, ready to send out teams to identify affected families and provide emergency needs. PRC secretary-general Gwendolyn Pang said their volunteers can serve hot meals, distribute relief goods, and provide emergency shelter to people displaced by the storm. She appealed to residents of areas affected by and in the path of Chedeng to stay home and avoid coastal areas, river banks and mountainous places. Pang advised families to prepare their supplies of water, food, emergency lights and survival kits. Storm watch updates on Chedeng from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Adminidtration (PAGASA) show the storm heading west northwest to Luzon and possibly making landfall on the Pacific coast of the Cagayan Valley region in about 72 hours. Chedeng is moving at 17 kilometers per hour, packing 115 kilometer per hour center winds, according to the PAGASA report as of 11 p.m. — VS, GMA News