Good day everyone. I hope you're all doing good.
It was raining when I went out to work that morning. I'm used to seeing the road flooded in this area when heavy rain comes. There were times when I got down in a vehicle unprepared and soaked my shoes. It was June 2008 when typhoon Frank hit the city. We weren't given a warning on how strong it was or I just didn't pay attention. I was already at work when we saw the flood increasing.
Usually it's just in the road and never reach my workplace for our place is higher. When we see the flood getting deeper. We thought oh it would reach our place. I just went at the back to get something and when I came back I was shocked to see the water making its way everywhere. It's already in my knee level. I was trying to save some of our merchandise by putting them in a higher places but the water gets getting higher. It was not just flood but it comes with mud. Our supervisor told us to abandon the store and exit through the back to climb in the water tank. The water almost reach my waist that time. I failed to save my bag for when I came to take it the chair where I put it already collapsed and nowhere to be found☹️
We put a wooden plank on the door to close it and we climb to the water tank. The water is so fast and increasing rapidly. We were soaking wet of the rain for it doesn't have roof. Lucky, next to The waLl is an apartment and their window is facing us. We know them because they are a regular costumer in our store. They called us to climb in their window and offer us shelter. The apartment is a three story building and the first floor is already flooded.
The photos were courtesy of my sister taken in our place when typhoon or heavy rains come and filled our rivers. We would take that opportunity to wash clothes and even bath our dogs.
We've stayed there for 2 days and 1 night before the flood subsided. I saw people in passengers jeepney that were stranded and they have to climb the roof of the vehicle to save themselves from the flood. How long we were stranded there is how they suffered without food and water. No rescuer came for people were unprepared. We're just lucky coz there's someone who shelter us and provide what we need. We couldn't thank them enough for it.
When we were able to return to the station the flood is still knee level. The water is muddy and oily. One of our fuel tank leaked that's explain why water is oily. It took a lot of cleaning and replacing the damaged parts including the leaked fuel tank and it took eight months before we resumed our operation.
First time I witnessed this kind of calamity struck this city and I hope that history wouldn't repeat itself.
This is my response for last week prompt# 18 A Moment In History I Witnessed>!