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On September 26, 2009, Typhoon Ondoy (international codename Ketsana) dumped 455 millimeters of rain in 24 hours in Manila in the Philippines. That number is almost twice the amount of rain Hurricane Katrina dumped (250 mm) on New Orleans in 2005 (source). In a typhoon-prone country such as ours, Ondoy delivered in just six hours enough rain for an entire month. (source) This caused EPIC, never before seen flooding all over the Metro.
Metro Manila and practically the whole of Luzon has been declared in state of calamity. The map on the right shows the HUGE flooded areas– there were flood waters everywhere. Among the hardest hit areas are Cainta in Rizal, Pasig, and Marikina. Most of the houses there have been completely submerged underwater with the residents clambering up to their roofs to wait out the floods. My family and I are lucky to be safe and dry as we live in an elevated area (in Parañaque) but some of my friends were not so lucky. Some have had their homes flooded in and they lost everything.
This is the biggest flood in our country in four decades. It affected everyone– from those living in shanties made of light materials to the ones living in two-storey houses in upscale neighborhoods behind gated compounds. Metro Manila was completely caught unaware. The government’s resources are not enough to rescue some people who, up to now (72 hours later), are STILL on their rooftops awaiting rescue without food or water. The death toll so far is at least 100 (unofficial count; various sources) with half a million people displaced. If only you could see my Twitter and Facebook feeds these days– full of links to photos and videos of the flood, pictures of the destruction, calls for help in finding/rescuing missing friends and relatives.
The floods have subsided now and relief efforts are now underway. Clean up is also a problem and a massive one at that. Abandoned cars are piled up on the streets. Right now, Filipinos need to start over and rebuild their homes and their lives.
Help is greatly appreciated. The situation right now hasn’t been getting attention on international media, I don’t know why. Victims of the typhoon badly need donations in cash and in kind.
A picture is worth a thousand words. Here are some images (collected from Facebook, Twitter, etc.) from the flood. Donation info comes after the pictures.
A dog stuck on a muddy rooftop after flash floods subsided
Cars piled up after the flood
For those in the Philippines who want to help, the easiest way to donate is by picking up your cellphone. Your donation will be credited to the Philippine Red Cross.
Donations in kind are also appreciated. Food (canned goods, instant noodles, rice), bottled water, clothes, medicine (paracetamol, decongestant, cough syrup, etc.) are needed.
Monetary donations from abroad are also welcome. Dollars go a long way in the Philippines. Google has put together a page with all relevant links and information about how to help, where to donate, what is needed. Visit it here. A Paypal link is also available here, or you may donate directly to the Red Cross.
The Philippines needs your help! Please take time out to help out in any way you can.
P.S. Two more tropical depressions/typhoons may hit the Philippines this week– see news article here. Please pray that it diverts or is at least not destructive like typhoon Ondoy.
P.P.S. Crocodiles have been sighted in the flood waters