New update. Read this one if you havent read the others. This is the most important yet. ESPECIALLY THE LAST PARAGRAPH. Please share. 3:45 p.m. Monday, Dec. 8, Philippines time: Though Hagupit has been downgraded to a tropical storm, it’s still forecast to skim close by Metro Manila and the former Clark Air Base and Subic Bay Naval Station, still packing a rather powerful punch. Joint Typhoon Warning Center’s mid-day forecast track has Hagupit rumbling 41 miles south of the capital at about 3 a.m. Tuesday, 83 miles south of Clark four hours later and 54 miles south of Subic at 11 a.m. Tuesday. It will still be packing 63-mph sustained winds and 81-mph gusts at its center. Observers on the ground in Manila say there hasn’t been much wind and rain yet; expect that to pick up as Hagupit nears the capital. Heavy rain and localized flooding is expected along with 65-kp/h sustained winds and 90- to 105-kp/h gusts. More than 1 million people have sought shelter or safer ground, The Associated Press reported, and while there’s been damage to shanties and tin roofs blown off structures, no major damage has been reported. Government offices shut down for the day as did schools in the metro area. Still, people are being “lulled into a false sense of security,” free-lance journalist Tony Ahn told Storm Tracker. “People don’t believe it’s going to be bad tonight. Folks are still at the malls doing their Christmas shopping.” This is precisely the wrong time to be out and about during the run-up to a tropical cyclone. It could pick up forward speed, the track could edge further north and the winds could be worse than forecast. And cars could end up being swamped in floods. The best approach: Stay indoors until the danger passes. Christmas shopping and other appointed rounds can wait, because one only gets one chance. Get your safe on, Manila!
Posted on: Mon, 08 Dec 2014 08:50:25 +0000