Aftermath of the storm
Did you see these?
(Pictures from INQ7’s site: http://www.inq7.net/specialfeatures/milenyo/images.php#)
These pictures were taken last September 28, 2006, when typhoon "Milenyo" (international name: “Xangsane”) hit the Philippines. :(
" Billions of pesos in crops destroyed " ...
" Millions still have no power and water " ...
" 'Milenyo’ death toll nears 200 in Philippines " ...
" ‘Milenyo’ causes P300M damage to Eastern Visayas " ...
Stories, and more sad stories... :(
Two friends of mine are originally from Bicol, and they still have family there. Of one friend, part of their roof covering their sala, was blown off during the height of the storm. The other friend? The only thing left of their home after the storm, was the floor! His mom, is still probably reeling, and crying her eyes out from losing their ancestral home. And who could blame her? Our laundry lady who lives in Taytay tearfully related that she doesn’t have a house anymore. They lived near the flood way, and her small home was literally blown away. Right now, they are living in the garage of another home, and saving up money to buy materials to rebuild their home.
We heard stories about people whose homes were damaged, people getting hurt, but what hurt most to hear, were how people lost their homes, and how many others lost their family, their lives…
While all this was playing out in the real world, I was in bed reading a book. My kids were downstairs playing board games, and when electricity went out, and the wind was howling so eerily and loudly, I decided to go downstairs and cuddle (take note, cuddle and NOT huddle) with my kids. It was like a vacation for us! Not having a radio, we knew little of what havoc typhoon "Milenyo" was unleashing that very moment. It was only in that's nights news did we see the damage wrought on so many areas, that we truly realized how lucky we were...
It’s been YEARS since work in private companies were suspended. Imagine, signal #3 in Metro Manila! The whole day, we could hear the wind howling, the rain hitting the windows, the sound of wind hitting the yero of the roof, as if the roof would be blown off, then suddenly at 4pm, it stopped. That suddenly! There was no more howling wind, and in an instant, electricity was restored in our area. Little did I know then that we were part of a very small minority of Metro Manila residents with electricity. Friends who lived in Novaliches, Fairview, Pasay, Makati, San Juan, Parañaque had to suffer a few more days without electricity. In some unluckier areas, full power will be restored in 3 weeks! THREE WEEKS?!?! Tsk tsk tsk…
What did the super typhoon teach us? That we should nowhere be in the vicinity of giant billboards?! Yes, and no… It taught us that we should prepare. Prepare how? The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in the US (http://www.fema.gov/areyouready/thunderstorms.shtm) suggests that we take the following protective measures BEFORE a thunderstorm:
• Develop an emergency plan.
• Collect and assemble disaster supplies kit (bottled water, first aid kit, etc.)
• Learn where to seek shelter from all types of hazards.
• Remove dead or rotting trees and branches that could fall and cause injury or damage during a severe thunderstorm.
• Remember the 30/30 lightning safety rule: Go indoors if, after seeing lightning, you cannot count to 30 before hearing thunder. Stay indoors for 30 minutes after hearing the last clap of thunder.
Of course, other tips are more common sense:
• Stay indoors. (This is not the time to go to Megamall to shop, Grace!)
• Prepare by ensuring that our houses are safe (no loose glass/windows, etc.) that could be blown away and hurt someone
• Ensure that we have enough food (canned goods, non-perishables) to tide us until the storm is over
• Keep flashlights, emergency lights, batteries, candles and matches ready in case of a power outage. Keep a battery-operated AM radio handy to keep you updated on the thunderstorm
Hopefully, when we all take steps to prepare for such storms, then we will not be victims of Mother Nature's wrath. That, and maybe legistrators will seriously consider banning giant billboards along our highways...
Another super typhoon is coming!!! Are YOU ready?
(Pictures from INQ7’s site: http://www.inq7.net/specialfeatures/milenyo/images.php#)
These pictures were taken last September 28, 2006, when typhoon "Milenyo" (international name: “Xangsane”) hit the Philippines. :(
" Billions of pesos in crops destroyed " ...
" Millions still have no power and water " ...
" 'Milenyo’ death toll nears 200 in Philippines " ...
" ‘Milenyo’ causes P300M damage to Eastern Visayas " ...
Stories, and more sad stories... :(
Two friends of mine are originally from Bicol, and they still have family there. Of one friend, part of their roof covering their sala, was blown off during the height of the storm. The other friend? The only thing left of their home after the storm, was the floor! His mom, is still probably reeling, and crying her eyes out from losing their ancestral home. And who could blame her? Our laundry lady who lives in Taytay tearfully related that she doesn’t have a house anymore. They lived near the flood way, and her small home was literally blown away. Right now, they are living in the garage of another home, and saving up money to buy materials to rebuild their home.
We heard stories about people whose homes were damaged, people getting hurt, but what hurt most to hear, were how people lost their homes, and how many others lost their family, their lives…
While all this was playing out in the real world, I was in bed reading a book. My kids were downstairs playing board games, and when electricity went out, and the wind was howling so eerily and loudly, I decided to go downstairs and cuddle (take note, cuddle and NOT huddle) with my kids. It was like a vacation for us! Not having a radio, we knew little of what havoc typhoon "Milenyo" was unleashing that very moment. It was only in that's nights news did we see the damage wrought on so many areas, that we truly realized how lucky we were...
It’s been YEARS since work in private companies were suspended. Imagine, signal #3 in Metro Manila! The whole day, we could hear the wind howling, the rain hitting the windows, the sound of wind hitting the yero of the roof, as if the roof would be blown off, then suddenly at 4pm, it stopped. That suddenly! There was no more howling wind, and in an instant, electricity was restored in our area. Little did I know then that we were part of a very small minority of Metro Manila residents with electricity. Friends who lived in Novaliches, Fairview, Pasay, Makati, San Juan, Parañaque had to suffer a few more days without electricity. In some unluckier areas, full power will be restored in 3 weeks! THREE WEEKS?!?! Tsk tsk tsk…
What did the super typhoon teach us? That we should nowhere be in the vicinity of giant billboards?! Yes, and no… It taught us that we should prepare. Prepare how? The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in the US (http://www.fema.gov/areyouready/thunderstorms.shtm) suggests that we take the following protective measures BEFORE a thunderstorm:
• Develop an emergency plan.
• Collect and assemble disaster supplies kit (bottled water, first aid kit, etc.)
• Learn where to seek shelter from all types of hazards.
• Remove dead or rotting trees and branches that could fall and cause injury or damage during a severe thunderstorm.
• Remember the 30/30 lightning safety rule: Go indoors if, after seeing lightning, you cannot count to 30 before hearing thunder. Stay indoors for 30 minutes after hearing the last clap of thunder.
Of course, other tips are more common sense:
• Stay indoors. (This is not the time to go to Megamall to shop, Grace!)
• Prepare by ensuring that our houses are safe (no loose glass/windows, etc.) that could be blown away and hurt someone
• Ensure that we have enough food (canned goods, non-perishables) to tide us until the storm is over
• Keep flashlights, emergency lights, batteries, candles and matches ready in case of a power outage. Keep a battery-operated AM radio handy to keep you updated on the thunderstorm
Hopefully, when we all take steps to prepare for such storms, then we will not be victims of Mother Nature's wrath. That, and maybe legistrators will seriously consider banning giant billboards along our highways...
Another super typhoon is coming!!! Are YOU ready?
posted by shy @ 12:17 AM
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