HAVING witnessed how supertyphoon Yolanda devastated Medellin town in November 8 last year, Renalyn Mondigo and her family in sitio Pio, barangay Antipolo in Medellin town, northern Cebu aren’t taking chances with typhoon Ruby (international name Hagupit).
“Mas nag prepare nami karon kay natagam nami sa una nga kuwang kaayo me ug preparations (We made better preparations now.We’ve stocked up unlike before when we lacked preparation). We used plastic to cover our things while those things that can easily be broken or blown off by winds were transferred to a safer place,)” Mondigo said.
They also bought rice, canned goods and emergency supplies like candles and matches in case of a brownout.
Mondigo and her parents live one kilometer away from the coastal area.
“Our bags are all ready in case we have to evacuate,” she added. When Yolanda hit northern Cebu last year, Mondigo recalled that they evacuated after landfall.
When they started to evacuate, Mondigo saw the destroyed houses of their neighbors while trees and roofs blocked the roads.
“Kompyansa ra kaayo mi ato kay nagtuo man mi nga dili ra ing-ato ka kusog (We were confident then because we believed that it won’t be that strong),” Mondigo said.
Strong winds blew the roof off their house, while the rain soaked their clothes and belongings.
“We tied our roof using ropes but it was still blown off by Yolanda as well as our windows,” she recalled.
“We recovered a few things. Our house was so dark and empty. I could not explain what I really felt because it was the strongest typhoon that I ever experienced,” Mondigo said.
Same way
In barangay Lahug, Cebu City, 18-year-old college student Jou Anne April Ranario and her family prepared the same way for typhoon Ruby like they did with supertyphoon Yolanda.
“When we learned from the news that there is a typhoon that will hit the Philippines especially in the Visayas, we then started to prepare,” she told Cebu Daily News.
Their family purchased ready-to-eat goods, stored purified and tap water, emergency kit, emergency lights and water proof bags at JY Supermarket.
“There was no panic buying in our part because we keep on checking the weather updates,” Ranario told Cebu Daily News.
Their family also prepared clothes and extra money in case of emergency.
“What we have prepared are basic needs. Prayers are still important especially since Ruby is also considered a strong typhoon,” Ranario said.