Fced Report Typhoon Ondoy

Families and Children for Empowerment and Development (FCED) Foundation, Inc. 2290 Pres. Quirino Avenue, Paco, Manila Report on the Devastation of Typhoon Ondoy I. Background Manila was the center of the typhoon Ondoy that poured heavy rains last September 26, 2009 (Saturday). The amount of rain that flooded Metro Manila and the neighboring provinces was considered as the strongest in the past 40 years. According to the news, the 6 hours rain was equivalent to 1 month rainfall. During the heavy downpour of rain, many people were stranded in different areas – in work, schools, houses, streets and other areas because almost 100% of Metro Manila was flooded. Many areas which were not usually flooded experienced flood for the first time due to the calamity. The assisted 13 areas of FCED in Paco and Pandacan, Manila were also included in the devastation of the said typhoon. All these areas were flooded. The vulnerability to flood by these areas was due to the river that cuts across the 7 communities. Although only 7 areas were along the river, all the areas experienced different flood levels in their houses. Those families which live near the river experienced water reaching their shoulders up to above 6 feet high. The other six communities which are adjacent to the communities near the river experienced flood reaching their hip area up to their shoulder. The flood in the houses near the river only subsided on Monday (September 28, 2009) by 11:00 am to past 1:00 pm. In the other areas, the flood subsided on Sunday afternoon (September 27, 2009). Presently, the areas near the river are still experiencing on and off flooding which is knee high even after the heavy rains after the typhoon. II. Effects All areas of Manila were affected by the flood caused by the typhoon. FCED operates in 13 communities out of the 272 Barangays covered by District V and VI of Manila. In the 13 assisted communities, the effects of the typhoon to the 1450 assisted families were of a varying level. According to the affected families, many were not able to save many of their belongings because the flood rushed to their houses very fast, approximately, 1 inch a minute and they did not have enough time to rescue their valuable things. Their beddings and clothes got soaked in the dirty flood water. Due to the heavy dirt, they cannot anymore use their clothes. In fact, some said that worms were found on the clothes which were soaked in the dirty and foul smelling flood water. Others had some parts of their houses partly damaged. A part of the wall and roof of some of the assisted members were carried by the flood. In some cases, their simple household appliances, cooking wares, clothes, shoes and slippers were washed out or destroyed by the flood. The school supplies of most children got wet even if they tried to secure it because of the heavy rains and some houses have leaking roof. The children experienced fear seeing their houses submerged in the flood. The families experienced hunger for at least a day or more depending on the length of time when their houses were submerged. Many children experienced fever, cough and colds while many adults in evacuation sites were examined to have

hypertension. The electric current and water supply was shut-off during the typhoon and resumed after the flood subsided. The families used candles to light their houses. In the nearby area, one community experienced fire. It was good that it was immediately stopped and did not anymore spread to one of the assisted areas. In summary, below is the number of families which were affected: Barangay

Affected Families

FCED Families Beneficiaries Slightly Affected

Moderately Affected

Severely Affected

Extremely Affected

821

2421

66

44

0

0

823

2837

68

77

5

0

824

4000

78

33

0

0

825

2500

0

22

1

0

826

2323

0

28

0

0

827

2351

45

27

0

0

828

1930

0

11

0

0

842

7000

78

22

0

0

843

6000 more or 104 less

0

0

0

844

2750 more or 67 less

85

2

0

849

1601

0

78

5

0

850

1690

104

41

853

652

0

77

6

0

Total

38055

610

545

19

0

0

III. Immediate Action To save their lives, they sought refuge in their neighbor or relative’s houses which have 2 nd floors. Others went to the Barangay Halls for temporary shelter. As much as possible, many did not leave the area and evacuated in the nearby schools because they want to look after some of their belongings which they saved. The families that went to the evacuation centers were those that had no relatives or neighbors that can accommodate them during the flood. The families that were evacuated mostly came from Barangay 823, 824, 821 and 844. The schools that served as the evacuation sites were Zamora Elementary School, Bagong Barangay Elementary School and Manuel A. Roxas High School. To help the victims of flood, some Barangay officials offered the Barangay Hall as evacuation sites and some prepared cooked food for 1 day for the hungry families like what the Barangay Chairman in Barangay 825, 853 and 849 did. The Manila Department of Social Welfare distributed rice, noodles and canned goods to the families who went only in the evacuation sites. Likewise, seven (7) politicians were mentioned by those affected in Barangay 844, 821, 823 and 824 that extended food items to the evacuees only. The other affected people in the community that stayed with their neighbors, relatives and in the Barangay Hall were not given any assistance by the politicians and the local government of Manila. Those in the evacuation site of Manuel A. Roxas High School also had medical mission from the Paco Health Center and Ospital ng Tondo. The affected families that did not receive yet any assistance said that only those who are “favorites” of some Barangay Officials got assistance. They line up and end up with nothing. Although many politicians are already helping, with the large number of people affected in all areas, many are not able to receive yet any assistance since the typhoon flooded their houses. In addition, the electric current was resumed in Monday morning and the water supply returned Monday afternoon in most areas but there are still areas with no water supply as of September 28, 2009. IV. Needs The needs of the families at present are the following: Extent of effect

Needs

Slightly affected

Food, school supplies, drinking water, mat, blanket

Moderately affected

Food, used clothes, school supplies, medicines, drinking water, blanket, mat

Severely affected

Food, Cover for roof or wall (can be used tarpaulin or material used for tent), cooking ware and utensils, used clothes and underwear, school uniform of children, school supplies,

slippers, medicines, drinking water, blanket, mat