THE Mandaue City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (CDRRMO) reinstalled its early warning systems (EWS) in seven locations near the riverbanks in Mandaue City.
The CDRRMO officials also inspected its EWS at the 6.5-hectare relocation site in Brgy. Paknaan, bridges near Innodata and City Scapes in Brgy. Subangdaku on Jan. 30, 2021.
The other four locations, in Butuanon River, Sitio Guba in Brgy. Casuntingan, MobelHaus in Banilad and Cambogaong bridge, will have another schedule for inspection.
Buddy Allain Ybañez, the head of the CDRRMO, told SunStar Cebu that the EWS were installed years ago but these were disconnected after the Mandaue City Command Center was renovated in March 2020.
Now, they have reconnected these EWS to the command center and all seven EWS are functional.
The EWS are used to send alarms to the residents near the riverbanks to warn them that the water level is above normal and to send alarms for forced evacuation.
The EWS are equipped with a camera, water level sensor and siren, all connected to the Command Center.
CDRRMO personnel monitor the camera footage to determine the water level of the rivers and creeks.
Ybañez said they conducted the inspection to determine what needs to be improved with the EWS.
During their inspection, they tested the range of the sirens in three locations to determine if it is loud enough for the residents to hear.
He said they plan to set a certain water level, based on their studies and gathered data, that is considered alarming.
With this, if the water level will be detected, the EWS will automatically signal the command center and residents.
The CDRRMO also plans to start the reorientation of the residents near the riverbanks on the types of alarms to be amplified by the EWS.
Ybañez said the residents are aware of the signals.
However, they also consider the residents who have forgotten the meaning of the different signals and those residents who recently transferred to the area.
Ybañez said once the reorientation will be conducted, government-imposed protocol will be implemented. (KFD)