At the mercy of the weather
The city of Dumaguete and most probably the town of Valencia is now under a state of calamity after strong winds intensified by typhoon Paolo were experienced over the past days. There were non-stop rains that made the soil soft and the rivers swell. Those living in the riverbanks were forced to evacuate out of the area so they would not be in danger. The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office has already said that the amount of rainfall brought by typhoon Paolo can be compared to that of typhoon Sendong in 2011.
It is traumatizing for some of those who are from Negros Oriental to remember what happened during typhoon Sendong. It damaged a lot of houses and infrastructure. It also left casualties in the province. It took the province a while to bounce back after an earthquake also shook them. Seeing the riverbanks overflow to the highway made them think that the incident could happen a second time.
However, this time I'd like to say that they have prepared enough. At the sight of the swelling river, their first instinct was to pack their things and take them to higher ground. They then evacuated to nearby houses which were far from the riverbank. Others stayed in designated evacuation centers opened by the government. There they were given basic needs like food and water so they can get by.
We cannot predict how the weather will go in our country especially with the ongoing effects of climate change. PAGASA said there is a looming La Niña that we should prepare for. After the heavy drought, the opposite is set to come in. After several typhoons and casualties across the country, we have fully utilized our response teams to be prepared for whatever calamity.
Even then, we should not always rely on the government during situations like these. In the household, we can always assess if there is a need to leave because danger is on the way. There are also different ways to make sure that no water can reach the house or that the people living in it will be safe. It takes one to be street smart on what to do during these times.
Classes and work may be suspended but this should not be a time to celebrate. We can always check the barangay if anybody needs our help. The Local Government Units, especially the barangay, have limited manpower in case rescues need to be carried out. There is always room for a helping hand in these situations.
The weekend has been wet, like the previous day. I, myself, who does not hail from here will also be on the lookout not just for myself but also for my neighbors. Being after the mercy of the weather may be a good time to be under the sheets but we should also be on our toes. I only hope we can all keep dry and keep safe.