Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Ketsana - Ondoy Typhoon: My First Hand Experience from Rizal

Typhoon Ketsana, whose PAGASA name was Ondoy, formed early on September 23 2009 and left a trail of disaster in the areas of Marikina, Malabon, Muntinlupa, Quezon, Makati, Pasay, Pasig, Valenzuela and San Juan. Flooding also occured in nearby provinces of Bulacan, Rizal, Laguna and other Southern Tagalog areas. Major roads were rendered impassable because of huge flood currents and clogged cars. Our area, which is called Lower Antipolo was also hit.

This tropical typhoon, Ketsana and locally called Ondoy, has brought record rainfall to Metro Manila, not seen since the start of rainfall record keeping according to Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), producing only moderate winds but hours of extremely heavy rain, which led to the worst flooding in living memory. I read that the usual amount of rainfall received in one month was brought by Ondoy in six hours.

We were able to document our first hand experience of this disaster in our own neighborhood (Kingsville Subdivision, Lower Antipolo). Below are some pictures from September 26 to 29 as Ondoy ravaged Metro Manila.



September 26, 2009, Saturday at 10:20am: The flood hasn't reached our elevated garage but has filled the street.



At 1:05pm: the flood has reached our elevated garage and has entered the house of our in-laws. We were hoping it wouldn't rise and not reach our house.


At 5:45pm: the flood has reached our elevated garage and has entered our house. It has become waist-deep in the middle of the street.


At this point, we decided to evacuate and we were thankful that our next-door neighbor accommodated us and let us use one of the rooms on their second floor. As soon as we have evacuated our families, I, with my brother-in-law and their helper went back to salvage what we can. When we did what we could, we went to our neighbor's house and hoped the flood wouldn't continue to rise.

At 9:40pm: The flood waters continued to rise. It has become neck-deep in the middle of the street. In the lower part of the subdivision it has reached up to 15 feet deep.

Thank God we were able to evacuate our family and He provided a place of shelter for us. I feel deeply saddened for the other typhoon victims - for their greater loss. May God have mercy on us all.

Jeff

7 comments:

Ria said...

my prayers are with you and your family, as with the rest of the country who were hit terribly by this storm. may the Lord bless you.

anne said...

I saw the flood in the tv and it is really sad to see those people who lost their love one's, thank god you and your family are ok, my prayers are with you

lemuel said...

jeff, i texted you Sunday morining to ask if you are ok. i knew that your area will be affected because our aunt living near filinvest marcos highway was also flooded waist deep. i got worried when you did not reply. my sister's house, located at heroes hill, near quezon avenue was totally submerged to the rooftop because the house was located near a river. my cousin's house, in tivoli height across Don Antonio in commonwealth was also flooded and their 2 cars was totally submerged. Thank God you and your family are safe.

Hannah said...

How are you now? :(

charina said...

Good day Jeff,read your blog about your experience from Ondoy. Where in lower antipolo or subdivisions were flooded areas during ondoy? We are planing to relocate in kingsville court mambugan antipolo. Response pls..thank you.

Jeff Aspacio said...

Hi Charina, the subdivisions along Marcos Hiway were the ones hit. Kingsville Court is along Smulong Hiway, I don't think it gets flooded there.

charina said...

Hi Jeff, Thank you for the info. We sched our relocation this May. Sabi ng may ari ng bahay di sila nadamay ng ondoy. Sa tingin ko yung ginagawa ngyon sa Marcos hwy magiging ok at sana di na mangyari lit. God Bless...