Disaster Risk Reduction and Management

Among the typhoons that hit the Rizal region, the most devastating would be Typhoon Ondoy which happened 5 years ago, exactly on September 26, 2009. This typhoon was considered the most devastating one for the region due to its high flood level and the casualties it made as seen in the aftermath of the said calamity.

Cainta is just one of the areas that was greatly affected during the typhoon since the region was very flooded due to the continuous rain pour for consecutive days. Aside from that, knowing that Cainta is also known as a city that has a low land, we were really prone to experience sudden high level of flood and it was really quite inevitable for it to be avoided.

 

photo taken from: https://marikinacity.wordpress.com/2009/10/01/my-typhoon-ondoy-ordeal-4/

photo taken from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gScLc7FmVlA

These are just some of the photos taken after the typhoon Ondoy. As you can see, the 1st picture above shows the road of Marcos Highway where people desperately walks despite the flood just to reach a safer place. While at the bottom of it, even the well known mall in Cainta - Sta. Lucia Mall, was affected by the typhoon.

Aside from these pictures shown, it was also stated by the barangay coordinator, Alex Francisco, that typhoon Ondoy was indeed the most devastating calamity experienced by the Cainta community. Aside from the consecutive rain pour and the low land that Cainta has, another reason as to why the flood level caused by the typhoon was high is also because of the sudden release of water from the dam.  Kuya Alex also stated that "umapaw rin kasi yung Marikina River" that's why it caused for a higher level of flood in our area which is just near Marikina River as well. 

Aside from tropical storms, aftermaths of habagats are also common in our barangay to happen very often. Last August 12, 2018, the so called habagat caused another alarming flood level. 

This photo was taken just outside our gate, and as you can see even the if the rain is not that hard, as long as it's continuous, it would still affect our community. This also proves that some parts of Cainta have indeed low lands. Because of this, we were very alarmed and alert knowing that it might get higher if the habagat would lasts for the next few days. Fortunately, it did not last that much but it still made a lot of mess again on the streets. Walking through the streets during flood would be risky as well since it might give you other sickness and or diseases that would affect your health such as leptospirosis. You can also acquire dengue since mosquitos love to stay where there is an open water where they can lay their eggs and stay.

Since all of these happen too often within our community, the barangay stepped up their game by becoming more prepared whenever disasters or calamities would happen. Ever since the tragic events, they became more prepared by providing boats and life vests in case another alarming level of flood would happen. They also provide relief goods for those who are greatly affected.

They have also provided a  Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Plan and Hazard and Safety Map in case of emergency. They make sure that people would be aware of what to do before, during and after the disaster or calamity so that by doing so, it gives an assurance that hopefully lesser casualties would happen.