Another Typhoon

About a week ago, Typhoon Quinta ripped through the southern part of Luzon in the Philippines and caused a lot of damages from houses to businesses and in the agriculture sector. Up until now, a lot of people are still cleaning up all the mess left behind by typhoon Quinta. In the region where I'm located at, there are still places without electricity supply, debris are still lying rotting on the ground and some houses aren't fixed yet.

But the bad news is that, another typhoon, more disastrous than typhoon Quinta is approaching the Philippine area of responsibility — Typhoon Rolly. With international name Goni, Typhoon Rolly is expected to wreak havoc in the Philippines by Sunday. It is described by The Washington Post as 'the year’s most intense storm on the planet', so people in our place are already preparing for the worst right now.

This morning, me and my siblings busily kept all the important stuffs and documents in plastic bags and sealed it tightly so that if in case there's a flood or if in case the roofs will be blown by the strong wind, the documents are sealed and safe. My sister also kept the clothes that we no longer use in a big drum so that after the rain, we won't have to spend so much time doing the laundry and spend our time for cleaning all the debris instead. And each of us also packed a personal emergency bag.

The Philippine archipelago is located along the typhoon belt in the Pacific so each year approximately 20 tropical cyclones hits the country wherein, 5 of it are usually destructive. Typhoons are named A-Z, at the start of every year, but in 2013 a lot of tropical cyclones entered the Philippine area of responsibility that PAG-ASA run out of names, so they have to start all over again from 'A' to name the next typhoon.

All throughout my life there are three typhoons I can never forget.

1. Super typhoon Reming. November 30, 2006. I was just in 6th grade that time when this typhoon violently hit the Bicol region. This typhoon seemed to be one of the most destructive typhoon that ever hit our region because the heavy rainfall caused the ashes in the volcano to be washed away which resulted to lahar. Hundreds of people who lives in towns located near the volcano were buried alive. A total of 655 deaths we're recorded. Earlier that day, I was having a great time with my cousins, and it didn't even occur to us that a strong typhoon is coming because it was sunny that morning. My grandpa who is still alive that time, even jokingly said that the typhoon is only in the television and radios. He didn't bother going to the big house and preferred to stay in his small nipa hut. But at lunch the rain started to pour and the wind also started to get stronger. Good thing, we are safe and sound at my grandparent's big house.
   
   2. Typhoon Nina. December 25, 2016. This typhoon ruined the vacation weekend of many Filipinos and destroyed a lot of homes and even eaten the lives of several people. I can't forget this typhoon because during that time, I was at my grandma's house in Camarines Sur since my cousins who are already living in other parts of the country went home after a long time. We planned to visit some beautiful landscapes in Albay and Sorsogon the next day, so we even made some goodies such as ice cream, graham balls and other foods that we will bring the next day. But alas! The lights we're cut off by 3 pm and strong rain and wind came gushing. Some parts of the house was destroyed that night, and we are unable to sleep because we were cleaning all the rainwater coming from the ceiling. When I went home in January, most of our stuffs including all the projects I made and are due after the Christmas vacation, are ruined because my two siblings left at home aren't able to prepare since they didn't anticipate the strong storm too.
   
   3. Typhoon Tisoy. December 2, 2019. In my more than 20 years of existence, I have seen and experienced a lot of typhoons but this is the very first time I experience evacuating. The new house where we currently stay is not that sturdy compared to the other house at a nearby town but it would be a hassle if the whole family will leave and stay there. I stayed here with my parents so that I could help in cleaning up all the mess. But when the typhoon landed, my parents urged me to evacuate at our neighbors house and I have no choice but to obey them. Good thing I did because later that night there was a flood that reaches the knees and the next day, we have to clean up all the mud and debris.

Since we are somehow used to experiencing typhoons now and then, we already know what to do in times like this.

What to do During Typhoons

• Prepare. Typhoon is one among the foremost common disaster that we experience from time to time. Nobody can ever escape this. What's the best thing to do to survive? Prepare. Yes, preparation is always the key to survive. It doesn't only mean to prepare the stuffs we need or to make the house more sturdy, but we have to prepare our mind too. We have to acknowledge the very fact that this really happen which we and our loved ones will possibly face danger. Know the potential places for evacuation and it is also best to prepare and keep emergency supplies.

Here's what we need to prepare:

• Foods that will last for at least 3 days

• Potable water

• Clothes

• First aid kit

• Flashlights with spare batteries or with fully charged batteries

• Power bank

• Blankets

• Cash or debit and credit cards

• In the midst of the typhoon. Act quickly and always obey what the authorities say. If possible, listen to the news or watch the newscast, and always stay indoors. When evacuating, always keep in mind that our lives is what matters the most, so leave behind the personal items and just bring your emergency bag that contains emergency supplies. Seconds can make a difference between life and death so always expect for the worst to happen, so act with vigilance.

• Stay safe after the storm. Last Sunday, when typhoon Quinta reached the land areas, wind gust started to pound our place and strong rains came at around 5:30 pm, so we thought that the typhoon has landed, and the entire neighborhood is actually thankful that it landed while it is still daytime. The strong wind and rain stopped at around 7:30 so people went outside and checked on the damages. But we were wrong, at 8:30, stronger winds clocked and began to pummel again along with heavy rains. The lesson? Don't make assumptions and stay indoors until the newscast says that the threat has already passed. Yes, the aftermath of every typhoon may be depressing and it might be frustrating to lose some of our assets and valuables, but always keep in mind that those things can be replaced, what matter is that we are alive and ready to face life despite the storm that has just passed.

Stay safe everyone, specially those who are located where the typhoon is supposed to landfall - @esciisc 💕