By CESAR JOLITO III

Some residents are already heading to evacuation centers on their own, most likely due to trauma from Typhoon “Tino” in November, as local authorities and disaster response teams in Negros Occidental are ramping up preparations for Tropical Depression “Wilma” this weekend.

“Just because ‘Wilma’ might not directly pass through your area doesn’t mean you should wait,” Irene Bel Ploteña, Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) chief, said yesterday.

She emphasized that residents in flood-prone areas should evacuate early, regardless of the storm’s exact path.

“If you have a history of flooding, it’s safer to pull out early. During a storm, it’s harder to deploy rescuers to high-risk areas, which is why these locations are our priority,” she added.

Ploteña said a coordination meeting was recently held with the local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMOs), search and rescue teams and uniformed personnel to ensure the safety of residents in flood- and landslide-prone areas.

Based on the latest forecast track from the state weather bureau, “Wilma” is expected to pass through La Castellana before moving north.

Satellite images and cloud formations indicate the potential for heavy rainfall in several parts of the province.

The province has already positioned search and rescue teams and an inventory of logistics, including 30 “Ondoy boats,” ready for deployment.

Food and other essential supplies are being prepared based on requests from the local government units.

Several localities scheduled preemptive evacuations yesterday afternoon, as reported by their Emergency Operations Centers.

Ploteña reminded residents to remain vigilant as the storm’s trajectory may change.

“We advise everyone to monitor updates closely. Our priority remains the safety of our communities in high-risk zones,” she said./CJ, WDJ