How preparedness worked in Yolanda-hit areas during Typhoon Ruby

Joy Maluyo

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How preparedness worked in Yolanda-hit areas during Typhoon Ruby
'We have just started to get on with our lives. I don’t really understand why we had to go through another typhoon but I am thankful we are all safe now and our house is still here,' says a Yolanda survivor

MANILA, Philippines – It was just a year ago when Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan), one of the deadliest typhoons ever recorded slammed Leyte province. More than 4 million people were displaced while over 6,000 were reported dead.   

“We have just started to get on with our lives. I don’t really understand why we had to go through another typhoon but I am thankful we are all safe now and our house is still here,” says Reynante, one of World Vision’s shelter beneficiaries.

Along with tools and materials, he also attended the build-back-better workshop which taught communities how to keep their houses disaster-resistant. Reynante lost his house last year and has only rebuilt it last July 2014.

“When the news on Hagupit was all over the news, I was worried.  We couldn’t afford to lose everything again. But I’m glad we’re all safe and my house is still here. The lessons I got from the build back better workshop worked,” he said.

Reynante added: “One lesson I can’t forget is to properly do the spacing of roofing nails. I am thankful I went there and listened.”

Reynante said that aside from securing his house, he also learned to be more attentive to weather alerts. Preparedness, according to him, is something that he learned the hard way.

‘Build back better’

DAMAGE. Typhoon Hagupit didn't spare Dagami, Leyte from its wrath Photo by Bobby Dazo/ World Vision

Jose Caile, Infrastructure Manager, is delighted to hear the news from build back better workshop attendees like Reynante.

“It is good to hear that our efforts have paid off but most importantly, we’re happy to know that the people are safe. Proper sizing, spacing and anchorage of the roof frame to the entire structure are important things to remember when building houses,” he explains.

World Vision was able to provide build back better workshop to 13,000 people across its response areas.  

Meanwhile, Margarita is grateful for the shelter that she received from World Vision. A day after the typhoon, she was glad to wake up with her house still standing. 

“I realized that if we were not able to transfer here before Hagupit, we would have been in the tent again by this time. Thank you for giving us a safe home,” she expresses her gratitude.

“Our shelter has wooden posts resting on concrete pedestal columns and it is at the same time, bolted. This allows the house to withstand lateral forces such as strong winds and earthquakes. The flooring is also slightly elevated to keep it safe from floods,” explains Roberto Pamintuan, Haiyan Response Reconstruction Manager.  

Typhoon Ruby (Hagupit) made its first landfall at 9:15pm December 6 in Dolores, Eastern Samar with sustained winds of 160kph and wind gusts of up to 195kph. It left 232,948 affected families. – Rappler.com

Joy Maluyo is a communications officer of World Vision.

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