Over 13K families flee flooded and damaged homes in Cagayan Valley

BAGUIO CITY (November 13, 2024) -- Over 13,000 families have fled from their homes in the Cagayan Valley region, perhaps the hardest-hit region in Northern Luzon because of the onslaught of typhoon Nika.

The social welfare department placed the figures at 7,781 families (24,417 persons) have taken refuge at 374 evacuation centers across the region, Isabela province turning in the most at 6,230 families (19,440 persons) in 283 evacuation centers.        At least 1,375 families (4,463 persons in 70 evacuation centers were recorded in Cagayan province, while 18 families (60 persons in 4 evacuation centers were recorded in Nueva Vizcaya. At least 158 families (454 persons) in 17 evacuation areas were logged in at Quirino province.

At least 5,074 families (18,068 persons) are currently taking temporary shelter with their relatives or friends, the Cagayan Valley offices of the DSWD reported. Isabela logging in the most at 4,498 families (15,991 persons); Cagayan recording 477 families (1,725 persons); Nueva Vizcaya 97 families (346 persons) and Quirino 2 families (6 persons     )

Rapid damage assessment placed 702 houses damaged (53 totally, 649 partially), again Isabela province having the most at 39 totally damaged and 519 partially destroyed while Cagayan had 3 totally damaged, Nueva Vizcaya with 7 totally and 9 partially damaged and Quirino 4 totally and 121 partially destroyed homes.

According to DSWD Field Office 2, Cagayan Valley Regional Director Lucia Suyu-Alan, they have deployed their Mobile Command Center since Tuesday which has been acting as a vital hub for information and communication, while enabling real-time monitoring and assessment of the disaster situation on the ground.

She added that they have unloaded 250 family food packs in Calayan, an island town in Cagayan facing the Pacific Ocean and 280 FFPs in Fuga Island in Aparri, Cagayan, via a Black Hawk helicopter courtesy of the Philippine Air Force.

DSWD Assistant Secretary for Disaster Response Management Irene Dumlao placed the initial cost of national government assistance that had been sent to typhoon-affected families in Cagayan Valley at P4,447,123.70, notwithstanding the initial 4,825 FFPs (P3,115,716.70),

721 non-food items (P 1,299,052.00) and 500 bottled water (P32,355.00).

Dumlao added that a total of 43,911 family food packs have been prepositioned in Cagayan Valley stockpiled at their warehouses in Tuguegarao, Camalaniugan, Abulug, all in Cagayan and Isabela and Santiago City warehouses, while 54,673 family food packs were prepositioned to different towns in Cagayan Valley region. These aside from other non-food items, she added.