December 18, 2011

• Tropical Storm Washi

  News

  

  Typhoon Sendong (International Name: Washi) came storming in our province early Saturday, December 17.

  It was my father's 60th birthday.

  At first I was thinking, oh, the damage would not be more than 100,000 pesos as what I saw were but the tip of the iceberg - sidewalk uprooted by the flood, poorly-built houses along the river (in depressed communities) carried by the strong river current, and flooding in major streets in the city. I was wrong. The damage was just unnerving, and the casualties, very depressing.

  I even braved going to the city thinking that the storm's over. But halfway down, the rain was nonstop!

  We were fortunate to live in a town that's elevated, located on the foot of a dormant volcano, Mt. Talinis. So, basically, with urbanization comes paved roads that prevented rain water to be seeped by the ground, instead it comes rushing downhill, causing floods in catchment areas which happens to be cemented, as well.

  Lights were out since early morning, I could only imagine how people continued with the simbang gabi Christmas tradition with no lights (mass starts at 4 in the morning) and with heavy rains.

  The rain continued until the evening. And since I could not go to the office, with the flood and all, I decided to just buy some pansit for my father's birthday and go straight home.

  Saturday, was a total black out in our town of Valencia, although most of the places affected by the typhoon already had their electricity back. Water is still scarce, especially in our town where we depend on surface water, which would be muddied during heavy rains and has to be cut off by the water company. I prefer surface water over underground water though, as it is more sustainable. We just have to look for a more eco-friendly way of filtering it out.

  Anyway, our reserve water just ran out and up until now we still don't have any water. I heard it would take a month before the service would resume. Well, we just have to make do with what we have, at least power is back (3:30 pm this afternoon).

  Anyway, as for Sendong's casualties in our province: As of 8:00 pm last night, the 302nd Infantry Brigade (courtesy of DYEM-FM's Florence Baesa) reported 33 dead in the province: 14 in Sibulan town, 10 in Valencia, 6 in Dumaguete, 1 in Pamplona, 1 in San Jose, and 1 in Bacong. 6 are still missing in Valencia. 

  In Dumaguete City alone, the City Social Welfare Office has recorded at least 2,000 displaced households (each household could have an average of six individuals, so do the math) now sheltered in 21 evacuation centers all over the city.

  The wind was not so strong, but the constant heavy rains that lasted at least 24 hours resulted in flash floods with such a strong current that it even broke and carried with it a steel bridge in our town. A steel bridge that's been there for like decades! It's that strong! 

  But, what we experienced in our province was nothing compared to that of Cagayan de Oro City where more than 500 were feared dead and more than 100,000 individuals were displaced. Water is still scarce as the province is totally devastated. Should you find it in your heart to share whatever little that you have, please check the contact information below:

  

  RMP or the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines is a group of priests, nuns, lay workers, and religious of various diocese and denominations working together to help alleviate poverty in rural communities in the Philippines. So, you can be assured that your aid would go where you intend it to go.

  ***

  Here's a picture of the street on our block during the typhoon:

  

  This photo was taken by the Mary Ann, wife of my elementary school classmate, Jon Floyd Consing. That's eucalyptus trees lining the road on the right side. On the left are lanzones trees and some ornamental plants. Notice how the bricks were uprooted by the flood. That's a National Road, temporarily turned into a canal.

  (Source: PIA Negros Oriental, Interaksyon and Yahoo! News (Australia) | Video credit: Soulmenj/Sirdonz Photography | Photo credit: DYWC, Margaret Jerrie, and RMP)

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