08/11/2025
Unsolicited advice from a ground zero survivor of Supertyphoon Yolanda:
If you are within the coverage area of Supertyphoon Uwan, I advise you to relocate to a place outside the typhoon’s path. It’s not only your physical health that’s in danger, but also your mental health.
If, for some reason, relocation is not an option, make provisions (food, maintenance medicines, water) for you and your family for at least 10 days. The wide range of expected devastation could paralyze relief operations. Ensure that your food supplies are elevated or stored in sealed plastic containers to protect them from flooding.
Withdraw cash as early as possible—you may no longer be able to do so once ATMs are destroyed, ransacked, or banks are closed and non-operational. In our experience, money eventually becomes useless; barter and exchange become the new currency.
When motorized vehicles break down due to flooding, owning a bicycle feels like owning a Lamborghini. Motorcycles can also be useful—just ensure that you have spare oil and fuel. That way, if your motorcycle gets flooded, you can easily flush out the old oil and fuel and replace them with your reserve. Riding a motorcycle when everyone else is walking feels like being a king.
Cars can be saved if you find enclosed (but not underground) and elevated parking areas, such as those in malls.
From our experience, we realized that nothing in this world is more important than life. If you have to choose between saving a life and saving property or valuables, always choose life—especially your own. During Supertyphoon Yolanda, people perished while retrieving bags of cash, trying to salvage cars, returning for forgotten jewelry, or holding on to their beautiful homes.
Most of all, prayers do miracles. Stay safe, everyone. God is with us!
By Sum Avila