Typhoon Ondoy Batters the Philippines!
9/29/2009 | Ayala Foundation USA
The amount of rainfall that ravaged Metro Manila and environs last Saturday was unlike anyone has seen in the last 40 years. The deluge lasted for nine hours, triggering flash floods that reached as high as 20 feet. Typhoon Ondoy submerged houses, washed away vehicles and turned roads into virtual raging rivers.
Terrified residents were forced to seek refuge on their rooftops, where many of them are still perched until now, 48 hours after the tragedy. As of press time, the death toll is placed at 240. The number of individuals living in makeshift evacuation centers has also soared to 374, 890, according to the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC).
For many, the flood called to mind the Biblical days of Noah and his ark. Still others are already dubbing it the Philippines’ very own Hurricane Katrina. While it may be impossible to gauge the rainfall of Noah’s time, what is sure is that more rains fell in Manila and the surrounding regions than the rains Katrina dumped on New Orleans in 2005.
A total of 455 millimeters of rain fell in Quezon City alone in 24 hours, compared to the 250 mm that Katrina brought to New Orleans in the United States. Officials estimate that as much as 80 percent of Metro Manila, including Marikina, Malabon, Muntinlupa, Quezon, Makati, Pasay, Pasig, Valenzuela, and San Juan were submerged in water. Surrounding regions such as Bulacan and Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon) also reported casualties. All in all, the NDCC reports that 1.87 million of the country's 92 million people were affected by the tragedy.
Initial frantic rescue efforts saw military helicopters and rubber boats fan out across the metropolis to pluck people off houses and car roofs. As of now, many areas in Metro Manila, a sprawling city of 12 million residents, still remain covered in sludge. Schools, open-air gymnasiums and other evacuation camps still teem with thousands of evacuees desperate for more food, water, medicine and clothes.
At this time of crisis, when help is most needed by our brothers and sisters in the Philippines, let us show once again the spirit of bayanihan that has carried us through in our darkest moments. While massive relief operations are under way, so much more needs to be done:
How to donate
Click on http://www.af-usa.org/donate_now_form.asp and select "Philippine National Red Cross" or "AF-USA Typhoon Relief Fund" from the drop down menu marked "Donations For".
You may also send your check to Ayala Foundation USA. Please put "flood victims" on the memo portion of your check. Send to:
Ayala Foundation USA
255 Shoreline Drive Suite 428
Redwood City CA 94065
We will consolidate donations and Ayala Foundation in the Philippines will send the needed resources immediately where help is needed. Our kababayans need your compassion and support NOW.
Stay connected!
For updates, we encourage you to visit our Ayala Foundation-USA page on Facebook. Click on this link: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ayala-Foundation-USA/136319814988?ref=nf to view our page. If you have a Facebook account, please log in and sign up to be our fan so you may share our updates and appeals for help to your own friends.
