[talk-ph] Tropical Storm Ondoy: are you guys ok?

[Rally de Leon]

I just arrived from Cainta to check on my in-laws. The town has no
power, no water, no cell signal, no landline, no atm, no open gas
stations, and mud all over.

Our house in Taytay is not that low (and it used to be 1-meter higher
than street when my family moved in 1972, now our gate is about
6-inches lower than street level), and muddy flood water managed to
enter our house and office. No major damage because it happened at a
time during office hours (and were able to ask lots of help from
people to move things to the 2nd floor)

This already happened about 5 years ago and I learned my lesson. Most
of my important paper files, personal stuff and books got wet. So I
imposed an office-rule (it's beside my house) that everything (files,
electronics, extension cords, etc) must be stored 12-inches above
ground in case something like this happens again. All our cabinets are
no lower than 14" from ground. I always thought that should flood
inside our house reaches12-inch deep, then it's a major catastrophe,
and it's very unlikely to happen. I can be wrong. Now I think I'll
amend the rule to 2feet-above ground. Disaster records always get
broken, and it's just a question of when. Although this simple flood
precaution (that works in my area) won't work in Cainta, Pasig and
Marikina.

BTW, When I saw on tv the level of flood at gate of provident village,
I already imagined what happened to Ed's house (because it's a
bungalow). Well, I think if houses are to be built (or rebuilt in that
area), houses should have a 2nd or 3rd floor (with CR and small
overhead tank that can operate without power and make-shift kitchen)
and it should have an upperfloor exit so you don't get trapped during
flood. If you happen to have a small plastic boat or any floating
device or raft (or powered boat or jetski), then have them permanently
tied to a strong rope or chain in the garage (for emergency use), so
that it doesn't get carried out by the flash flood. These provisions
are not O.A. when you live in marikina or any where between the areas
Marcos Highway, Imelda Ave and Ortigas Ave Ext., because catastrophic
floods in these areas are always bound to happen (just a couple of
years apart). Gardens, cars, computers can be repaired, but I can only
imagine what it's like to lose the sentimental stuffs, mementos,
diplomas, writings, diaries, notes, land titles, old pictures,
hard-earned furniture, paintings, etc to muddy water damage or totally
lose them to the river. Although, they compare nothing to lose of life
& love ones (like many people interviewed on tv). It's really a sad
day.

Thank God, Ed and his family are safe now. Ed maybe strong, but let's
help them (and others affected) anyways so they can get back to their
normal lives in the soonest possible time. ...our real way of thanking
God, that we are also safe.

Any news on maning?

-rally


On Sun, Sep 27, 2009 at 8:29 PM, Eugene Alvin Villar <seav80 at gmail.com> wrote:
> Update: Rally and his family are safe in their house in Taytay. Water
> entered their house but it was only 3 inches deep.
>
>
> On Sun, Sep 27, 2009 at 6:55 PM, Eugene Alvin Villar <seav80 at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>>
>> Update: I got this news from Eric Punzalan over at the WaypointsDotPH
>> Yahoo! Groups:
>>
>>> FYI
>>>
>>> Our friend Ed Garcia's house has been under water, completely, since
>>> yesterday.
>>> He managed to escape the waters by taking shelter in a neighbor's house
>>> (second floor).
>>>
>>> I lost contact with him yesterday afternoon after he sent an SOS message.
>>> They were all safe as of that time and were preparing to move up to the
>>> roof as the waters kept rising.
>>>
>>> We could not get to their village to help due to flood waters.
>>
>> Rem also mailed there to say that he went to Marikina to do coverage for
>> his newspaper. He tried looking for Ed's house but was unsuccessful.
>>
>> Maning also lives in Marikina. I have no word about him and his family
>> yet.
>>
>> :-(
>>
>>
>> On Sun, Sep 27, 2009 at 1:10 AM, Eugene Alvin Villar <seav80 at gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>>>
>>> Maning, Ed, Rally and others in Marikina, Pasig, Cainta, etc. are you
>>> guys ok?
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> http://vaes9.codedgraphic.com
>
>
>
> --
> http://vaes9.codedgraphic.com
>
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