Needed: Large trucks for Typhoon Lando rescue teams

MANILA, Philippines – Typhoon Lando rescue teams need your help as they get ready to be deployed to flooded areas.

Water search and rescue (WASAR) teams are asking for assistance to source large trucks to bring their rescuers and rescue equipment to areas devastated by Typhoon Lando (Koppu), particularly in Central Luzon. (READ: Typhoon Lando: ‘Worst floods’ in Cabanatuan history)

Large trucks, similar to the M35 2 1/2 ton type, are needed, according to Lt Col Edwin Sadang of the Office of Civl Defense (OCD). These trucks need to be able to cross flood waters, some as deep as 6 feet, and should be with drivers, Sadang said on Monday, October 19.

Rescue teams such as the UP Mountaineers Search and Rescue (UPM SAR) and the rescue unit of the Primer Group of Companies have teams on standby and ready to move out with full gear from Metro Manila. Other rescue teams are also waiting for transportation to disaster areas. 

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council – Office of Civil Defense (NDRRMC – OCD) is coordinating the inventory and deployment of all search and rescue units in the country.

Businesses, civic groups, and volunteers are asked to check in with the NDRRMC located at Camp Aguinaldo if they can lend or donate the needed equipment. The OCD earlier advised rescue teams to proceed directly to disaster-affected areas and coordinate with the local disaster risk reduction and management officer (DRRMO). 

Rappler is helping the NDRRMC gather a list of volunteers or groups who can provide transportation, money, or equipment for the rescue teams. If you can help, please fill up this Google form below. A representative from the Project Agos team will contact you right away. 

Project Agos is Rappler’s collaborative platform for disaster information management and top-down bottoms-up decision making during times of crisis. It is supported by a grant from the Australian Government.

Lando continues moving at a speed of 5 km/h, and is moving towards the north-northeast, PAGASA said in its Monday 10 am bulletin. The speed of the typhoon is being affected by another storm to the east, Typhoon Champi, and the presence of a high pressure area, the weather bureau added. 

At least 10 provinces remained under public storm signal number 2. (READ:  – Rappler.com