Odette Documentary December 16, 2021 Thursday

    

Carcar City, Cebu-Philippines has one of the worst damages made by Odette as the City is close to the eye of the Typhoon. 

 On the first week of December 2021. It was a very beautiful sunny week in the Philippines especially where I was located and live. We were only concerned about how to survive from the Pandemic while it keeps on evolving and mutating from Cov-19 to different types of variants. Delta and Omicron and many more.

On our daily hustles, finding new opportunities is our priority and praying that the deadly virus will soon be controlled by vaccinating 70% of the population, which is the main goal of the government and advised by the (WHO) World Health Organization, but the 70% is not that evident in our country. We haven't reach that percentage yet. Sad to say not all people agreed to be vaccinated. The struggle will prolonged, we don't know when this will going to end, probably it will not, we need to get used to it and survive.

In the middle of the struggle, pandemic lockdowns, limitations of places to go, businesses closures, wearing uncomfortable face mask and face shields,  little did we know that there is another challenge coming up that would shake our nerves. 

No one had an Idea. 

It is going to be a devastating event about to happen. 

Well of course we are already used to hearing news about typhoons and storms that hits our country every year. From A to Z, We enjoyed waiting what names would come out every time there is a tropical storm going inside the PAR. 

Unfortunately I am not a news updated person. I don't read news or watch it on TV. I rely only on what I see in the sky or what I hear from people. Although that is the kind of person I am it doesn't mean I am not a sociable or not connected to society type of person. I just listen to what people say and wait for the truth to come out. 

So, I searched on the web to know more about how the storm started. 

What I've learn from Wikipedia. "On December 10th 2021 the international system said to have detected a low-pressure area in the Pacific and slowly developed into a  tropical depression on the 12th day. The same day Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert ( TCFA). Further intensification ensued" And the tropical depression name RAI was upgraded to a tropical storm before passing near Palau and entered Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) ON the evening of December 14th and PAGASA named it Odette.- Wikipedia 

That very moment upon learning the name of the tropical storm, Odette, people around are making fun of the name, like she must be Marites or Maldita (the new trend on social media about chismosa). Just for fun. It was a beautiful week anyway. 

The news was not taken seriously as it was only a Category 1 storm. But as hours go by, we heard that it is rapidly intensified to a higher category. Signal 1,2,3 and 4, fast as counting numbers. 

On the 15th of December, the news are saying it is possible to go category 5. That's when people are a bit alarmed. But still relaxed. I was calm too. Working normally on a daily basis. 

On the 16th of December that is when PAGASA confirmed that the storm is really a category 4 going 5. 

That is how the storm formed. 

"My family and I" 

That 2nd week of December my family wasn't with me during the storm updates. Me and my wife had a fight a week before that and so they stayed in her mom's place for a moment to cool down. On the afternoon of 15th of December, I was expecting them to come home. She called up and ask if she and our children can come down and stay with me. Of course, I said Yes!

 Although it was late around evening when she decided what time they will come, I still accept and arranged their home coming. They rode a taxi and I was waiting for them at the gate. They then arrived safely and I paid the taxi. I am happy they are in my arms once again, my first born daughter hugged me so tightly and I kissed her and also my new born baby boy, I hold my tears so it won't be obvious, I just want to let them know I am happy. We ate dinner with smiles on our faces. I helped  my wife, we have our kids take a half bath. We, then, turn all the lights off and lie down. We had a good night sleep.

The next day was a fine day. December 16, 2021, the wind is warm and calm even though the news got intense every minute, updating and confirming that the storm is going to pass our island. 

My family and I prepared breakfast of bread and hot Milk and milo. And took our two children to shower and us as well. as I have little money in my pocket, I went out to Taboan and bought necessary food that would last a week for us. 5 kilos of rice, biscuits, powdered milk, can goods and butane gas for cooking. I placed them in our dirty kitchen afterwards. I am then feel secured and ready. This time I am in the moment having the recollection of RUPING that hit our island back in 1990. I was 10 years old then. By that quick dramatic memory I knew I was ready whatever happens.

As all family necessities are ready. My  brother Richard, came in and said we need to go out to buy some things before the storm arrives and so the whole after lunch or should I say afternoon we were out buying important things. We drove around the City observing the weather. WE did observed it right according to what we previously experienced. as he grew up in  Seattle Washington DC USA the place where storms are frequent. And me, grew up studying the weather everyday and every year, I knew some of the cycles naturally by looking at the sky and feeling the wind how it blows. 

We saw how the clouds change, the humidity, the wind, the movement of the sea waves. 

We then entered to Robinson's in Ayala and even ate dinner around 4pm.

Then we drove off to SM Seaside trying to buy flashlights and rechargeable bulbs. 

Around 5pm This is the video I got from my phone while waiting for Richard inside his truck, he is inside the ACE Hardware. 

 

Successfully Richard got what is needed and liked it, rechargeable bulbs from Firefly Brand.

We arrive at his building at 6pm where we all live. Me and my family is on the roof top.

We set all the rechargeable light bulbs accordingly. Then we settle down close to each of our own families. 

At 15 minutes past 6pm, the wind is starting to be edible from a far. My family and I  had a dinner normally. 

Around  7pm the wind was starting to be wild a bit as I can see the tin roof of our bathroom are crackling back and forth, I even jokingly said that in my Facebook Post "Only laundry soap is lacking on our neighbor's Roof". 

30 mins past 7 is getting bad. 

And finally at 8pm the wind already around us whistling like jet plane.

Here is the short video I got from my phone during those times. 

 

I knew that the house we are living in is very strong but I am just a bit skeptical because we are on the rooftop. 

Around 8pm the whole building where we are staying are starting to shake. That's when I decided to take my family to transfer to the lower level as it is much safer. For me of course it is fine, I am confident to stay and witness what will going to happen but I don't want my family to experience any trauma, , I have lots of it already and overcame it but not them, I have two little kids to protect. 

As I saw one side of the wall are moving like papers against the wind, that's when I told my wife, "let us go down".  

I feel like MacGyver at that moment. I can hear the wild wind sounded like a Jet plane flying nearby. My wife can hear it too. So, I told my wife to stay in the middle of the building incase there are debris, it won't hit us as we are in the middle of the house, we avoided the walls for it is only made out of hardiflex type of material. 

The wind is getting stronger and wilder, I couldn't bear it anymore. I bring them in the middle of the stairs. and went to the main door just before I opened the main door, the wind slammed the door strongly. I was afraid if there was any knives flying. Thank goodness there aren't. So I shouted at my family to stay at the stairs and as I closed the main door once more. I said, we will pass the door until the wind stops blowing and If I said let's go, we will go! and I will count one two three! Okay?! I heard her say OKAY! The wind is hissing and whistling!    

Good! they followed my instructions. My wife ask if we need to bring anything., I said, no worries I will come back and get them alone, what's important is we will be safe. she agreed. So the wind is still pushing the main door and suddenly it stops. so I count 1 2 3 and opened it and shouted let's go!

She carried our new born baby and almost left our first born girl and cried papa!. I carried her myself and pass through the main door going to the steel door of the lower level of the building. I made my body as a shield against the wind to protect them while they pass through going to the steel door and slowly they going down just the right time the steel door slammed me strongly by the wind. Good enough they are down halfway at the stairs. It was like a movie in action really. 

Richard called up and was concerned but he was happy to know that we are already on the 2nd floor safe. But we need to go back to check everything upstairs and bring important things for the kids. We did. the doors slams and everything all the debris are scattered. And after we got what we need, that is what I heard from him saying LET IT GO BROTHER. IF THE STORM DESTROY EVERYTHING UPSTAIRS THEN SO BE IT. We surrender our worries to the Lord. I had the same feel too and trust the Lord. 

I told Richard the only prayer we ask is Odette will move fast away from our place never mind the strong rotation. If not it would cause so much damage. 

We settle to one room provided by Richard and the lights are out already. My family are calmed and the kids soon fall asleep.  

Many times I was tempted to go up one more time to check the space we live in. I remember 5 times but I always hear a word that whispered in my heart and ear, "it is safe my son trust me".   So, upon hearing the words many times I went to the room and slept with my family and waited until the storm subsides. 

9pm... Wind Whistling!

10pm... Wind is blowing hard!

11pm... The wind is strong still!

12mn December 17th... it is getting stronger!

1am  Starts to calm down!

2am. It went away a little!

This time the wind is not blowing that hard, so I went upstairs and check if everything is fine. while roaming around the rooftop the wind is no longer angry but i can still hear a jet plane like sound above my head and farther away, it still blows from time to time. 

After 2am, we checked that the damages aren't that massive although we lost some of our utensils plates and other things outside our dirty kitchen. We were just hoping that tomorrow when the sun is up we can still recover some important things.

Richard and I went down to the roads to see what is happening. And we lost some of the  roof but not all. We walk a couple of blocks away and see damages from neighbors. The road is quite, only the cold wind we can hear. After that we went back and secure the locks and gates for it is surely without lights until in the morning. Power poles and wires are obviously destroyed. 

I can hear tin roofs being drag by scavengers a bit from afar as it is common in our country that some will have no more tin roofs and others will have more after the storm. Those who don't have roofs will have more after the typhoon. 

We then went to sleep.  

Here, I compiled my video clips into one short video before the landfall, during and after. 

This portion I would like to get some information from friends, borrow some pictures and videos from them during the typhoon on 8pm 11pm of December 16th and aftermath. I will ask them about their preparations before and what were their actual experiences... 

other people's stories and pictures and videos insert here:

My friend Tan Kel's story... 

Tan Kel's Video

Dashcam footage the night of the onslaught of typhoon Odette. 

Around 6 pm I already told my wife the idea to stay at SM seaside overnight but she was against it. So around 8 pm, our roof started to sound like it was about to be flown off our house. Living near the sea, my fear got my better judgment thinking about what happened in Tacloban during Yolanda. I decided that we should all go and stay at SM seaside which I thought we could still do thinking the landfall will be at 10 pm. The wind wasn't that strong yet when we came out of our place, but it got stronger by the minute especially when we were already at the iL Corso area.

I was thinking twice about posting this footage since I know people will blame me for putting my family in danger. But I also want to show how God protected us from danger. Seeing the damage it caused, I can honestly say it was a miracle that we survived. Our car sustained very minor damage as well.

#myFaithisstrongerthanmyfear 

#thankyouLordGodforprotectingus

#blessedarethosewhohavenotseenyetbelieve

-Kelly Steven Tan

Note: Additional videos, pictures and stories will be included from time to time. Friends are still sending their stories and materials. Let us hear their stories also.