Technology, social media and Ondoy

In an event like Saturday’s where basically all communications are down, and there is nothing but chaos, where does the family of the affected people go to for news and real-time updates?

In the Philippines, traditional television and radio would have done the job if not for the power being cut off because of the storm or the fact that the flood waters have pretty much submerged houses all the way or even beyond the rooftops.

But even so, television and radio don’t really have that much grasp to begin with. You have to be sitting down with power running through your home and try to listen for names and addresses of people you might know.

That is when the power of social media shines the brightest. I do now know about how other people affected coped with the situation, but as for me and my family, we pretty much stayed glued to Facebook and Twitter, trying to call for help for our family and friends that were directly hit.

This tropical storm has hit us the closest ever since our place in Pasig that rarely ever gets floods was totally submerged in water. My mother and brother had to evacuate to our neighbor’s 2nd story roof, fearing that they may even have to go to its highest point due to rising flood waters.

It is especially difficult since it was very difficult to communicate. Calling from here in Australia, we would experience frequent cut-offs. And the fact that each and every SMS message and call was draining on their phones batteries meant they had to reserve power for the more urgent calls that they might have to make.

It was my brother who posted on his account on Facebook that they needed to go to higher ground that caught the attention of people. Kitchie’s cousin Nicko read the message and immediately informed her mom about the situation, who just so happened to be waiting for us to contact her on Skype.

I did receive a message previously from my mom about rising flood waters, but since we never really had very bad ones, I didn’t really think of it much. If only I had the foresight, I probably would have advised them to leave immediately. But then again, that might not have been a good idea.

As soon as I myself read Jon’s post, I hit my own Facebook account for pleas for help or any kind of support for my family back home. I found out accounts of journalists on Twitter and asked them for help as well.

I mainly stayed on GMA News’ Facebook page to read up on updates as well as include our address for places where they needed help. Seeing how the event affected so many people in areas that have never really been exposed to such things, it makes you see how you should prepare for something like it, if you do decide to still reside in those areas.

The last contact I had made with my brother was via MS. He informed me at about 6:20am Philippine time, that our mom has just gotten on one of the rescue boats along with the 2 kids that were stuck on the roof with them. But he had to stay back since children and the elderly were the priority for rescue.

Over 24 hours has passed. Still now word from my brother, whose mobile phone batter has probably gone flat. No news about our mother either. No one knew where she was. Our uncle and his family went to the closest 3 shelters looking for my mom, but she was not in any of them.

Back here, we were all going crazy. We knew Jon was on the rooftop for over a day without food or water. Our mom was nowhere to be found. I couldn’t eat or sleep either, thinking of ways that might be able to help them.

Going back to Facebook, messages of concern and kind words were constant. So were the barrage of rescue and relief operations info. I managed to get through one where they had helicopters dropping off relief goods to people who were awaiting to be rescued on rooftops, hoping that they would fly over where my brother was holed up. The water was receding, but there was no sign of rescue.

We’ve also utilized email to contact mom’s friends, to find out if they know anything of her whereabouts or whatnot. Though that didn’t reap any new information, being able to share with them this kind of news is something altogether. Responses of concern and immediate, and shows how much they appreciate our mother.

Then a break. At about 9:30pm Philippines, we received a message from Jon himself. He braved the flood waters and walked all the way to Rosario Church. This was a feat on itself on normal rainless days, so it was hard for me to imagine what he went through then.

He also received news that our mom was holed up in a nearby police station, and that he would meet with her as soon as our uncle and his family, who were on their way to pick him up were there.

Posting information and later confirming that Jon and and mom were indeed in the clear sent words of relief and thankfulness on all our Facebook accounts.

There will be more insights on what went on during this emotionally-charged event as soon as we find out more. But one thing is for certain. I will definitely convince my family to start using Facebook, Twitter and Skype more often so as to ensure the lines of communication are always open no matter the weather.

Related posts:

1. Waterlogged
2. Going social
3. Home
4. The migration
5. At home

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