VLOG: Huge waves in Northern Samar

CATARMAN, Philippines – How are people along the path of Typhoon Ruby, international name Hagupit, preparing for its onslought? Pia Ranada is in Catarman, Northern Samar and she tells us, some still refuse to leave their houses.

PIA RANADA: I’m standing on white beach in Catarman, one of the northernmost coastlines of Northern Samar. This is almost definitely in the path of Typhoon Ruby, according to many forecasts. It’s around 8 am now, hours before Ruby’s predicted land fall. Yet already the waves behind me are enormous. The winds are already very strong, making trees bend and making it difficult to walk or stand. It has also started raining in short bursts.

The houses near the coast have been reinforced by their owners against Ruby.

Some have evacuated.

GLORIA MABEZA, CATARMAN RESIDENT: We are already in the College of Science but we just went home to take a bath and eat. Before lunch time, we’ll be back there.

Others would rather wait at the last minute than leave certain things behind.

AMELITA GERONA, CATARMAN RESIDENT: Because I have many dogs, 4 and we have pigs. How can we bring them to the evacuation center when they’re so noisy? Of course because they are like children to us.

Amelita says she’s ready for a storm surge.

We’ve made preparations. We have containers and rope already.

PIA RANADA: We will continue to deliver news and updates on Typhoon Ruby as it makes landfall in Eastern Visayas. Pia Ranada, Rappler, Northern Samar.

– Rappler.com