As I watched the updates of the flood brought by “Habagat” on TV and online, there was one thing apparent to me: People who were told to evacuate their homes because of the rising water level did not leave their homes because they wanted to safeguard their stuff.
During the Ondoy flood of 2009, I acted the same way. I did not want to leave my house because of the things I had there. My sister, who was by then quite insistent that we leave, asked me “Is there anything you can do about your things when the water comes inside your house?” After some thought, I made the decision to go.
Why do we feel this need to safeguard our things? Why did people prioritize their things over their lives? Probably because we worked hard to buy all that stuff. But if we were able to purchase them before because of our hard work, then we can still work hard again and replace those things, if they become damaged by the flood.
I heard a rescue worker lamenting on TV that some people who were already rescued went back to their homes when the rains stopped for awhile. When the water started rising again, they had to be rescued all over again. The reason they went back was because of their things at home. “Baka manakawan” (Someone might steal), they say.
Well, let’s say some lowlife might still take advantage of an empty, flooded house, can he actually run away with your things? When he gets out of the house, he’s still faced with the flood.
During emergencies, we should prioritize the saving of our lives over our things. We lock our windows and our doors, secure our important documents, jewelries and others, bring our stuff to higher levels of our homes and that’s it. If we have to leave, then we should go.
3 comments:
I was an Ondoy victim, so I do realize the value of property. But then again, human life is of course more important than material things. Online casino Ireland. ###
I'm sorry to hear that. We were victims of Ondoy, too. Our parents' home was flooded and they along with our two children were trapped on their second floor overnight. The water reached the ceiling of the first floor of their house. So much of their things were damaged, a lot more were saved. The damaged ones are now replaced. We have forgotten about our damaged things, but the relief that their lives were spared will always be with us.
I agree. Life is irreplacable unlike these properties. We can work hard and buy again. Hope this would be the last calamity that will make a huge damage to our country.
Carizza
www.carizzachua.co.cc
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