Wildfires, Earthquakes, Typhoons/Hurricanes. Are You Prepared for Disasters?

byMelWaller

14.1K followers

1 month ago

(Cover Photo: Inside Public Market Toledo City, Philippines after Typhoon Odette)

Hi everyone,

Taking a short trip down memory lane and the importance of being prepared as much as you can be for anything.

This was something that I picked up from my time in the U.S. Marines 1980-88.

Even then I was in Hurricane Iwa that hit the Hawaiian Islands and a major Earthquake in Japan in 1983.

On Dec 16, 2021 Typhoon Odette slammed into Cebu Island as well as other places.

Here is a msg that I finally was able to pass on to Jeff Brown who relayed it to WA late January 2022, I believe.

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This is an update of sorts for you all in the Wealthy Affiliate Community via Ambassador General Jeff Brown,

The island of Cebu was decimated. The Poor were especially affected because of the poor condition of their housing. Houses with steel roofs seem to have fared the best, but windows could have still been knocked out.

That was my fear during Super Typhoon Odette, because our windows could shatter and we could be ht by glass and/or debris.

courtesy: BenarNews.

We have a very small hallway on the second floor with no windows and that is where Melissa Jeane slept and Wen napped. I remained on guard through the night.

Early in the day, the winds started and got stronger as the day continued. At 5:15pm on Thursday, December 16th, we lost power and were disconnected from the world. There is nothing worse than enduring a storm of this magnitude in the dark when we cannot see anything (but the effects of) wind and rain.

The outer walls of our 2-story house are made of concrete and still the house shook. It felt like earthquake tremors--AMAZING! Filipino windows are not sealed at all and water was pushed by the wind into the house on the 2nd and 1st floor. I wasn't expecting that.

The winds howled through the night. What an eerie sound.

Around midnight, the intensity (of the storm) lessened, but it continued until after daylight (arrived). I felt very sorry for our immediate neighbors and their tin roofs that were being ripped off their homes.

In the daylight, it looked like a war zone. Debris, tree, and branches were everywhere. Electricity (was) out. No city water (was) available, but we did have a 500 liter tank of water that lasted 8 days. That was helpful.

(There was) no phone or WIFI services. (The) phone is very spotty now in our area. I travel 30 minutes to find a working internet cafe to reach out to Jeff and my three daughters in the USA.

Sometimes nothing is available. Our house has minimal damage. Our trees took a beating and two were brought down. We have a better view now from the rooftop terrace. There is always a silver lining! :)

We stocked up prior to Odette hitting us. That helped. I sent extra cash to myself here prior also, and that really helped, as it would be weeks before I could successfully get money to myself again. It is still a challenging process.

I was able to buy some solar lights and that helped a LOT after dark.

I hate cold water baths. My solution is to fill plastic liter bottles with water and set them in the sun for an hour or more! Of course, it doesn't work when the day is overcast all day long.

We had 7 sunny days after Odette passed us. That had to be a huge help to those who had no roofs anymore.

Bakeries opened up, so I eat a lot of banana bread and such. We have plenty of drinking water on hand and have been able to re-stock since.

I have been trying to stay ahead of things as best I can, and looking back (now day 23), I have done a very good job of that. I have actually tripled the supply of drinking water on hand to over 200 liters.

For bathing and water for the toilet, we get well water about a kilometer away and carry it back to the house. Just a few days ago we had our electricity restored. Being on the highway tended to be a priority for the electric company. (There is) still no city water or WIFI and Wen gets spotty phone service and texts.

As always, I am busy every day. This time it is not with online projects, but basic living, and I have even cleared 100 feet of one lane of highway of trees/branches, using my hand saw to cut them. It is very dangerous for traffic and pedestrians, but I do what I can. I have witnessed more motorcycle accidents, but thankfully no deaths.

Okay, I need to get going and try to pick up the latest money sent to myself, which means more standing in line. :)

Take care everyone! I hope you are all well. Happy New Year 2022!

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It really did look like a war zone everywhere the next day. The roads were completely covered in debris. Many homes were destroyed. Utility lines were down.

It took several months for services to be restored across the island.

Fortunately we stocked up enough before it hit and continued to stock up as I could afterwards.

I hope I don't have to experience this again, but if so, I am as ready as I can be.

Are you ready?

What skills could you learn to help when something like this strikes?

It was a good thing I have always enjoyed walking because that's what I had to do afterwards as there was no transportation as the roads were covered with debris.

Wen stayed home with Melissa Jeane who was almost 2 years old at the time.

Life can change in an instant.

Wishing you all the very best that life can bring you!

To Our Success!

Mel Waller