Friday, September 19, 2014

Another Ondoy

I couldn't sleep last night because of the heavy rains that until now have not let up. Tropical Storm Mario (TS Fung-wong) is currently battering Greater Manila with rains reminiscent of a typhoon almost exactly 5 years ago. On Sept. 26, 2009, Typhoon Ondoy (Ketsana) poured a month's worth of rain over a 6-hour period that indundated much of Metro Manila and its surrounding areas. We had to retreat to the 2nd floor of our former home as waters rose to what we estimate to be just under 6 feet inside our house. Outside, it was much deeper. Our two vehicles were totally submerged by the floods (one was lost the other resurrected) and we lost a lot of more sentimental, personal items especially in my parents' home in Cainta where photo albums, books and others perished in the floods.

It took us 4 years to save up for a new home in an area that is flood-proof (as well as relatively safe from other potential disasters as well). A few more floods including monsoon- (Habagat) generated ones encouraged us and reinforced our resolve to transfer residence where we could finally have peace of mind in times like this. So far, our investment has paid off although windy typhoon Glenda took a big piece of our mango tree that only last summer provided us with a bountiful harvest of fruits. Today, the product of our hard work is validated with "Ondoy-like" floods all around Greater Manila.

Like Ondoy 5 years ago, I think Mario caught a lot of people off-balance, unprepared for the heavy rains and the floods that now resemble if not exceeding Ondoy's. News reports this morning stated that Mario has so far dumped the equivalent of half a month's rain in Greater Manila. It's been about 6 hours since then and the rains have not stopped. The weather bureau has issued an advisory saying these rains will continue until tonight and so that means more rains and deeper floods. We can only hope that the rains will finally stop and the floods subside. The conditions outside as I write this is not encouraging and its has become darker in the last few minutes. The rains continue to pour and more reports are coming in about people being evacuated or rescued. There are a lot who are stranded in their houses and those braving the floods to get to safer grounds. I hope we will be alright after this very sad episode.

Keep safe everyone!
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