Essay On Racing Against Flood Waters

I pity those people that have been affected by a deluge of rapidly increasing flood water at the hype of a tumultuous typhoon. Watching the news around the world has led me to recognize most devastating natural disasters that have been made worse by tidal waves. Who could forget the earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan in 2011? As a mere spectator, I was shocked at the extent of devastation and not even a powerful nation like Japan, who allegedly had been immensely prepared especially to address natural disasters like earthquakes, could prevent, control, or mitigate the outcome. Only recently was I subjected to a similar experience in terms of being a helpless victim to the raising flood waters. The experience on the havoc wrecked by a tropic storm at our country was one of the most unforgettable struggles in my life.
Actually, I remembered that there had been several news flashes of the impending storm even days before it actually hit in July of last year. Most of the people in my neighborhood regarded this as just another ordinary storm where people could normally go through their daily activities without any hitch. However, on that Saturday evening, I suddenly felt a strange fear as the winds begun to howl more violently and the power was cut off, immediately enveloping the whole city into totally darkness. My parents have started to make sure that all my siblings are in the house and that we have enough supply of emergency lights, candles, and a portable battery-operated radio to enable us to hear updates on the news.
Since it was already dark and we have apparently completed our day’s chores, we were already about to go to sleep. We wore the thickest clothes we could get from our closets. I remember going through the dark closet and trying to imagine where I placed my jacket, socks, and the thickest blanket I have. I was on my bed but I could not immediately rest since the rain was continuously pouring and its evident rage could be clearly heard from our rooftop. My mother made her last check-up on each of our siblings’ rooms and reminded us to put out the lit candle. I can hear a faint sound of her portable radio in the master bedroom. I glimpsed at the clock before I put out the candle light. It was 10:00 p.m.
Three hours after falling asleep, my brother woke me up and told me to help them put up all the things from the first floor of our two-storey house. Apparently, there was flood water that started seeping in the garage. And only a matter of hours before the rapidly rising water would enter the living room. I immediately rose and went down the flight of stairs to see that father and mother were already starting to pack some of the things that need to be taken up. Since their bedroom was downstairs, they immediately packed most of the clothes and important documents. Next came the television sets and other electronic gadgets.
The first flash of morning could be peered through the second floor terrace and where we could already see that the street was completely submerged; including the vehicles that were parked outside. The water was actually muddy and there were a few vehicles which could pass by the street – apparent trying to move to higher grounds. As we slumped to our respective bedrooms after transferring most of the things that were essential, we were all tired; yet fear and anxiety remains. We kept peering downstairs and praying that the rain would stop so that the flood water would stop rising. We could hear information from the portable radio that most of the houses in lower locations have been totally submerged and that local government units have sent military personnel to assist in evacuating people to higher areas and to save those who opted to go to their rooftops while waiting for help.
It was already almost 6:00 p.m when the rains finally stopped. The flood waters also eventually stopped rising. The water peaked just about 4 steps from our second floor. I was actually already reflecting how we would plan on going to the roof in case the flood water would still continue rising. I worried on the safety of my loved ones. I could almost hear my heart beat as I await the end of an agonizing experience racing against flood waters. This definitely is one of my most unforgettable experiences that I would remember for the rest of my life.