By the evening of November 7, PSWS No. 4, the highest level of warning which indicates winds in excess of 185 km/h (115 mph) are expected, was raised for Biliran Island, Eastern Samar, Leyte, northern Cebu, Metro Cebu, Samar, and Southern Leyte.[44][45] Through November 8, the coverage of PSWS No. 4 continued to expand, with areas in southern Luzon being included.[46]
Officials placed police officers in the Bicol Region ahead of the storm.[47] In the provinces of Samar and Leyte, classes were canceled, and residents in flood- and landslide-prone areas were required to evacuate.[48] Some of the storm-threatened areas were affected by an earlier earthquake in Bohol.[49] The Philippine President requested the military to deploy planes and helicopters to the region expected to be affected.[50] As Haiyan was moving very fast, PAGASA issued warnings at different levels to about 60 of the 80 provinces, including the capital Metro Manila.[51] On November 8, the International Charter on Space and Major Disasters was activated, providing widespread charitable satellite coverage to relief organizations.[52]