MANDALUYONG, Philippines—The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) is prepared with its assets, chapters, and volunteers after Tropical Cyclone Kristine entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Monday morning, October 21.

As of 11 a.m. today, PAGASA reported that the eye of Tropical Cyclone Kristine was located approximately 870 kilometers east of Eastern Visayas. It has maximum sustained winds of 55 kph near its center and gustiness reaching up to 70 kph.

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signals No. 1 was raised over the following areas: Catanduanes, Masbate, Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon, Camarines Norte and Eastern portion of Quezon in Luzon; Eastern Samar, Northern Samar, Samar, Leyte, Biliran and Southern Leyte in Visayas; and Dinagat Islands and Surigao del Norte in Mindanao.

The state weather bureau anticipates that Kristine will strengthen into a tropical storm within the next 12 hours and may escalate to a severe tropical storm by Wednesday, October 23. It could further intensify into a typhoon by Thursday evening or Friday morning.

The PRC immediately held an emergency meeting in preparation for its response to the affected areas. As of today, PRC’s 102 Chapters and over 2 million volunteers nationwide are on standby for deployment; PRC rescue vehicles, food trucks, water tankers, and ambulances are ready to mobilize; a welfare desk was set up in Negros Occidental and more will be established alongside first aid stations and health desks in the coming days. The PRC also ensures that the blood supply will be sufficient.

“We are always ready for action. Our Operations Center has been monitoring the tropical cyclone since yesterday. Sa ating mga kababayan, maging alerto at handa sa paparating na bagyo. Nandito ang Red Cross para tulungan kayo, pero kailangan n’yo rin tulungan ang inyong mga sarili para sa inyong kaligtasan,” said PRC Chairman and CEO Richard “Dick” Gordon.

“Huwag na nating hintayin na mag-landfall ang bagyo upang maghanda. Ngayon pa lang, mainam na ihanda ang ating Go Bag na naglalaman ng mga damit, gamot, hygiene items, flashlight, maliit na radyo, whistle, at makakain na tatagal hanggang tatlong araw, at iba pa na makatutulong para sa atin,” added PRC Secretary-General Dr. Gwen Pang.

The public may call the PRC’s 24/7 hotline 143 for rescue and other emergency concerns.