The rains started at around 4:00 pm, January 16, 2017 in Cagayan de Oro City. Days before, PAGASA, the weather forecasting bureau of the country forecasted rains brought about by a low pressure area (LPA) and the tail end of the cold front which was par for the season. The LPA was not common though. As per records of PAGASA, storms do come at this point of the season but rarely in conjunction with the cold front that emanates from the northern climes when it is still winter. This tail end of the cold front usually pushes tropical cyclones southward unlike most tropical cyclones that hit the country that tends to have a trajectory of West-Northwest. Thus, Cagayan de Oro City which is in Northern Mindanao was Ground Zero.
Jay noted the unusual rainfall although it was already forecasted. By 6:30 pm, notable flooding has been reported in many main thoroughfares and the city proper itself. The rains still came in torrents but it was not confined to Cagayan de Oro (CDO) city but the surrounding mountains of Bukidnon. It only took a little more than an hour for the water to come down from the mountains into the natural flood basin that CDO is.
As of 8 pm Monday, 3,865 people had been evacuated, excluding students who were stranded in colleges and universities. 1,341 families are in evacuation centers, according to CDO city social welfare head Teddy Sabuga-a.
The Advisory from Social Media: "By 9:00PM: Portions of Masterson Ave from Koresco area to Xavier Estates are flooded but passable. Rosevale to Taguanao flooded with stones on the road (passable for SUV's, sedans and compact cars pass at your own risk) Pryce plaza area is passable but risky due to landslides (already 3 areas with landslide occupying 1 lane of the road downtown bound) New bridge to rotunda passable with minimal flooding approaching the bridge. Divisoria passable, minimal traffic going to Velez capitol bound. People walking on the streets due to lack of public transpo and traffic at a stand still for hours already. Carmen is a gridlock, street going to Madonna flood is over waist high."
Jay noted the social media updates and messages such as : Dear Parents/Guardians Please be informed that all SHS students stranded here in XU main campus have been given dinner. For those who can not be fetch tonight, rooms 305 and 306 STC Bldg are prepared for them where they can sleep. For updates please check the SHS CSG facebook account.”
Jay personally took his pick-up truck and braved the deepening waters towards the place of employment of his daughter. Along the way, he also picked up stranded people and conveyed them safely to non-hazard areas. By this time, electric power has also been cut so as to prevent any cases of electrocutions from already flooded communities.
Flood levels were reported to have reached up to 6 feet in the Limketkai Mall area. Other commercial establishments were also by the inundated. Malls offered sanctuary to those stranded wherein they were given spaces and free food so as to await for the floodwaters to subside.
Jay noted that soldiers and policemen were already into rescue operations and have been immersed in the cold water for more than 4 hours. Seeing this, Jay along with members of his civic organization supplemented the overwhelmed first responders of the city.
Forced evacuation has been implemented in certain areas of the city. This owing to the institutional memory of the devastation caused by Typhoon Sendong half a decade ago.
The torrential rains continued until 1:00 am January 17, 2017. In its aftermath, Jay had to wade through knee-deep mud to reach those who still needed rescue.
This serves as another object lesson when it comes to Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) at the local level. The new paradigm for DRRM is composed of :
1. Early Warning
2. Preparation
3. Training
4. Early identification of Hazard Areas
5. Pre-emptive evacuation
6. Pre-positioning of personnel and equipment
7. Ready Response
8. Marshalling of responders and scheduling of reponders
9. Pre-positioned relief goods
10. And immediate clearing of infrastructures for relief and rehabilitation efforts
The current experience of CDO city revealed several deficiencies in what has been protocol for almost half a decade notwithstanding the lessons of Haiyan/Yolanda. The Philippines is one of the most disaster prone countries in the world. Thus, DRRM at the local level is of primary importance in policies, implementation and funding.
We continue to learn. The positive effect is that there were government and civic organizations, and people who took risks for their fellowmen. People like Jay.
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