Typhoon Odette/Rai: A Super Typhoon Experience

I sincerely hope that everyone is safe and well. I haven't been active recently since I've never been able to get an internet signal in the last several days. With everything that has happened as a result of the typhoon, our power has only recently been restored, as has our internet connection. I can now share my personal experience with the wrath of this typhoon that directly hit us.

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It's been more than a week since that terrifying night on December 16, 2021.

Typhoon Odette/Rai, a category five super typhoon, made landfall on the island of Cebu.

We knew about the typhoon for days. We were not surprised as it is typhoon season. The news keeps warning everyone that this typhoon has the potential to become a super typhoon and will hit Cebu!

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The typhoon pathway

photo from https://thethaiger.com/hot-news/weather/typhoon-rai-rips-through-the-philippines-at-least-89-people-dead

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I recall falling asleep that afternoon, expecting to wake up around 1 a.m. However, a strong wind that I could hear from inside my room woke me up around 7:30 p.m. I double-checked the windows, made sure they were locked, and that my terrace door was closed. The wind continues to pick up. I could only communicate with my friends who were also in the same situation. They were saying that large trees had already fallen in their area. I could also hear a lot of debris flying from outside. The windows in our hallway shattered and the sound of the roof flipping but the sound of the wind was the terrifying thing I had ever heard that night.

I was alone in my room, and I tried to secure myself so that if my window broke. I moved my closet closer to the window to prevent the glass from splashing inside in case it breaks. My new full-sized 5-gallon container was used to secure my main door.

The wind felt like it could lift our apartment building. Then I heard one of my top-floor neighbor ask for help because his ceiling had collapsed and our roof flew off. The water is now leaking down the lower floor from the other side of the building. It's a night I can never forget.

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The next day, as soon as the sun came up, we went out to check on the typhoon's aftermath, and we discovered that several buildings were damaged. Unfortunately, because of the location of the building, ours suffered the most damage. The building's roof flew off. The ceiling in those units has also collapsed. As you look around, you'll notice a lot of fallen branches and debris.

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these are photos taken by my neighbor and posted in our group page

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Fortunately, all of our electric poles are still standing.

That morning, all communication signals were down, as expected, with the same electricity and running water. We have no idea how to communicate with our loved ones and assure them that we are safe.

My neighbors immediately looked for a place to get water, both potable and non-potable. I was extremely fortunate to have purchased gallons of water the day before.

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It's been a week without running water and electricity. Unless you go to higher ground, the communication signal is not working. Getting water every early morning had become a ritual to avoid long lines because everyone needed it.

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As the days pass, more of the aftermath becomes visible, such as long lines at gas stations, grocery stores, ATM machines, and water refilling stations equipped with generators.

Cebuanos, ( people living in Cebu ) as is customary in times of crisis, seek government assistance. There has been little to no information about the extent of the typhoon's devastation. The Cebuanos, on the other hand, never sit around waiting for assistance. I see people doing everything they can to get water and find a power source. They also tried everything they could to fix their houses. Many private-sector business owners contribute whatever they can to the distribution of all necessities.

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these are photos taken by my neighbor and posted in our group page

long lines at the gasoline station, some bringing barrels/containers for their own generators

Many people are still suffering. Several people have lost their homes and have little to no access to clean water and food. It saddens me greatly that we have received so little media attention. There are still numerous electrical poles on the ground, as well as large trees on some house roofs. Cebu and our neighboring islands are in desperate need of assistance. We were just hoping that it would be resolved soon.

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I am grateful to the company I work for

Our company provided us with a shelter and a charging station, as well as water to drink and some care packages. We were also grateful that we didn't have to go to work but were still paid, and that they never forgot to check on each employee's situation.

Christmas is a tradition for Filipinos, regardless of the difficulties they face. I had already planned on celebrating Christmas without lights. My neighbors and I had planned a small dinner together.

Surprisingly, our power came back on while we were still cooking! The resident's ecstatic screams are deafening. Everyone is overjoyed that our power came back after 8 days. It's a very Merry Christmas indeed!

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In times like these, I realize how crucial it is to keep going. Look for and do what we can, especially in terms of assisting one another. In doing so, I met some extremely wonderful people who were willing to help in any way they could. We may have been knocked out again by the pandemic, but I am confident that Cebu and the other affected islands will rise stronger!