Prepared for Emergency

Prepared for Emergency

Philippines have only two seasons, the dry and the wet season which is also called the rainy season. The rainy or wet season starts from the month of June until the month of October. Typhoons and storms are always anticipated during this time.

September 25, 2009 was a normal rainy day but it was around midnight when the heavy rain started and went on until early morning. I woke up to find that the ground floor in our compound was already flooded, which was normal when we get have that heavy rain.

Around nine in the morning it has started to rain again heavily and I noticed that the flood water was rising. Two feet, 3 feet, four feet and still rising until all the ground floor level was totally submerged and nothing was saved. The main road looked like a rushing river. Many homes, cars and lives destroyed.

Many people were not prepared for this and have never thought it will happen but it did.  How can you prepare for these kinds of emergencies? Here are a few that I have learned to prepare even when it is not a super typhoon.

1. Remove loose outdoor items like garbage, limbs, construction materials and etc.
2. If you have radio, check that they are working and charge them.
3. If you have a vehicle, fill the tank with gas.
4. Charge your mobiles, they are needed especially when the landline phones goes off to contact for help.
5. Fill generator with fuel incase the power goes off.
6. Fill water tanks and order drinking water.
7. Prepare flashlights; make sure that the batteries are working. Do not forget candles and matches.
8. Prepare the first aid supplies and make sure you have adequate supply and prescription medicines.
9. Prepare food like canned or dry food and pet supplies if you have pets.
10. When the storms intensify, it is best to stay home.

 Do not forget to let your family and friends know how you plan for the storm so they themselves can also plan. It is always best to be prepared. Here are flood pictures that I have taken in our compound during the Typhoon Ondoy.

Heavy rain drops

Water rising

The whole ground floor was flooded.

Cars submerged in the flood.

Rubber boats pass along the national road to rescue people in need.