Scarred by Kristine

Here we go again. Here comes that traditionally annual parade of typhoons. A parade of that sort came early last July. Now, each parade participant seems to be coming by weekly. This could extend until the end of this month. Some more could come next month. I think of it as a tradition of sorts. That’s just the way it is. Towards the last quarter of each year, strong typhoons come by. Classes get suspended. Power gets cut for a few days. We light the candles at night. Some roads get blocked by fallen trees or electric posts. Some barangays get flooded, sometimes up to the knees. Then, after some weeks, we all go back to normal, just in time before Christmas. It’s something we had been accustomed to. We buy batteries for the flashlights and the transistor radio, candles, instant noodles and canned food. We take the furniture up the second floor when the flood water starts to rise. Neighbors in huts in low areas insist that they stay at their homes and resist going to the evacuation areas. Why bother? We’ll get through the storm unscathed tomorrow.

But something shifted since late last year that strongly persists and seems to impend to form a new norm. Even while skies are clear blue with tropical sunlight, we now watch for typhoons beyond the Philippine area of responsibility. We follow their debut to an actual atmospheric phenomenon like it’s a TV/movie celebrity. We do the same for low pressure areas that form within the PAR. We now track the development and path of this potential or fully-developed cyclone, which could directly hit, move further north towards Quezon, or further south through Masbate. I heard of an unofficial theory that if a storm goes through Samar, it’s certain to move directly through Camarines Sur. Yes, we have anticipated typhoon landfalls before. But now, we watch for them like sentries on patrol for the invading enemy attacks. We do calculations, speculations and probable scenarios. Yes, everyone’s a weatherman now.

What do we do with this information? Well, we utilize it towards pragmatic preparation. Bring out the plastic polythelene bag and pack the important stuff inside and seal them waterproof. These packs should be stored in elevated areas on the second floor, far from windows or leaky ceilings. Get all electric devices and furniture up the second floor. If your house doesn’t have a second floor, ask a neighbor with a second floor to take in your stuff in one of their rooms until the typhoon gets through. This is especially challenging for big, bulky stuff like ovens and sofas. Be sure that the ground floor is bare or the materials left could easily be offered to the flood gods. This is another level from boarding up windows and roofing with wood panels or tarpaulin. The basic idea is that flood could rise up beyond the normal human height, save all your stuff.

I was told that check-out lines on grocery stores extend on long lines before typhoons. Sure, panic buying is not a new thing. But, the practice seems to have mutated to levels of anxiety. Our neighbors seem to be anticipating being stuck at home by high flood water for around a week. That’s good for business of the grocery shops. That’s good for the shoppers who have sufficient stocks at home. I hope the food are still good for Christmas.

Back then, no one really wanted to go to designated evacuation areas. Evacuation had to be forced. Now, our neighbors volunteer to evacuate while the sun is still out.

After the pandemic, we quickly forgot all about facemasks, social distance, rubbing alcohol, sanitizers, regular handwashing, protective equipment and everything else that came with preventing the spread of Covid-19. It seemed like we just wanted to get over that period of time, and have nothing to do with it. Yes, we would see some people wearing masks. But they are the small fraction of population who are concerned of their health or are required by their employers. But, Typhoon Kristine of October 2024 left a nasty scar on our psyche. Is it bad? Does it tend to reach overthinking worry, anxiety and panic levels? Maybe. Some of the worry and the panic could be misplaced. But, in the context of public safety, this is good. This vigilance seriously ensures safety. People have taken time to prepare, placing priority on health and security. It decreases carelessness and apathy. Now, the community is all in to protect everyone from the dangers of disaster. It’s a nasty scar, but’s a scar that led for the better.

Mark 13:19: “For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created to this time, neither shall be.”