State of Calamity in Manila

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  Manila, Luzon, Philippines
Sunday, September 27, 2009

Yesterday the skies opened and tropical storm Ondoy dumped a record rainfall on Metro Manila causing the worst flooding in 40 years. 25 provinces were delcared to be in a "state of calamity",as they refer to it here, with water rising to 5 meters (16.4 feet). The storm popped up quickly to the east of us as many storms here do, and there was no real warning of what was to come. In fact, we ventured out in the morning to get an eye exam at the mall.  It was raining hard and obvious that it was not going to let up any time soon.  McKinley Road was already swimming in water but people were still going about their business.  We get a lot of hard rains here but they pass through without major incident.  This one did not pass so easily.  After our eye exams we walked through the mall and noticed that the first floor was starting to accumulate a layer of water.  The sky lights were leaking and some poor guy with a mop and bucket was futily trying to clean up around him.  The stores on the first floor were closing up and it looked like some of the power may have been shut down.  We walked out of Glorietta and into SM to go to the supermarket.  While we were there they apparantly shut down the mall because we couldn't get back in. 

On the way back home I got a text message from a co-worker who lives in one of the worst flooded areas, Marikina. The water was getting close to her door and her husband was out trying to rescue his family in Pasig.  She later texted that he couldn't get to them and returned home.  Later she texted again that they had to go to a neighbor with a 2 story house because the water was that high in some places.  (The news showed terrible flooding and many people being rescued and evacuated.  One memorable shot was of a car being sucked under the flowing water.  Another was a video of a group of young people being swept away down river clinging to a pile of debris.  In our area there were some places being flooded but not like that.)  This morning she texted again that she is ok but was still not able to get in touch with some of her family.  The level of the water was down to hip level and the things in her place were floating around.  We have also received word that many of our employees were stranded at the office or while trying to get home. I've tried to contact those I have mobile numbers for but haven't received many replies.  Hopefully that is because the power was out and they were unable to charge their phones or because cell service was interuppted. So many people have lost their homes and possessions. As of tonight, 75 have lost their lives.

Looking out the window here today everything looks so normal but it's not in many places.  We are so lucky that we live in a place that escaped the worst of what is happening.  So many people have lost their homes and possessions.  As of tonight, 75 have lost their lives.  I guess its time to check our closets and cabinets for things others may need because there is going to be a huge recovery effort after this. 

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