How leadership save lives in the middle of the flood? How the people do something innovative to help each other to sustain their life from the continuous rain and the raging flood that damage the properties of hundreds of residence in the city and surrounding provinces and the entire perimeter along the bank of the river.

It was still fresh in my mind what happened in the year 1993 when our place devastated with flood. This is the deadliest flood over after 10 years of respite. Our place was located below sea level. Every year, continuous rain sometimes occurred that lasted about 3 days. Aside from being below sea level, this place we surrounded by mountains and rivers helped the formation of the flood. In the mountain it continued raining and its flood waters went directly to the rivers. This river was quite big and deep measuring over a kilometer from bank to bank. The city was separated by a highly populated island. The only connection between the 2 places is by means of a big bridge used as transportation lanes of vehicles and people. The storm lashes us. The continued rain made the river to overflow. When it overflow, all residents on both side will be flooded 4 feet from the level ground.

Due to the storm all communication facilities is down. Transportation vehicles cannot be used due to the flood levels. Our city was surrounded with water. All stores closed. The people affected have to go to a higher ground near the mountain except those living in higher building. Motorboat was used as their transportation facilities.

Seeing the condition of the city is very devastating. The people have a hard time finding foods and transporting people to its destination away from the flood. The Department of Social Welfare distributed goods by family in areas highly affected especially those people residing along the bank of the river. The distribution includes few kilos of rice, canned goods, noodles, salted fish and other important items they needed. Most of those evacuated people were brought and temporarily housed in various schools and gyms far away from the center of the flood.

The flood make people showed leadership due to crisis. They formed groups comprising 20 to 30 people. Their leader was tasked to maintain contact with the government for the procurement of food and other basic necessity. He also given task to safeguard their lives to secure them in the most safest place away. They helped each other and give support to each members when needed.

They devised a raft made of banana stem. Others used bamboo poles as rafting. It was their transportation for his group to move from one place to the other or used to reach the distribution centers to ask relief goods. Forming a group made help easy. Having a leader able them to synchronize all their movements saving more lives from the flood. Without the cooperation of each of the member they cannot sustain the effect of the calamity.

]They showed their creatively on how to make a rafting that help them to do things they wanted and save more people still trapped from their houses.

Many died due to flash flood. Disease is common. Most affected are children who have no enough resistance from cold weather. Some due to hunger and the other due to water contamination. What they did is to boil the water before drinking. Although not enough but it sustain them. Disease spread to other areas. Man-made hospitals in higher ground were busy treating people especially children from colds, fever and intestinal and abdominal complaints.

When flood released its fury we are helpless. We don't know what to do. We are afraid and cannot defend ourselves from devastation.

It took 16 days before the flood slowly receded to 2 feet level. It completely receded after another 3 days. Many electrical lines down, houses were damaged by the wind brought by the storm. Some coconut trees fell to some houses. The street was muddy. The consumer goods in the store was severely damaged and useless. In order to have their own lights during the night, they improvised lamps. Others used candles. Vehicles and cars caught by the flood were damaged.

The condition of the people were very touchy. But they were thankful that the flood did not last that long otherwise more people will die and affected due to hunger. The city mayor was busy instructing each of his department for immediate rehabilitation and restoration to the damaged portion of the city. The Engineering District started repairing the road, removing all blockages in the street.

Flood is not easy to handle and if it strike, its terrible and many will die.

Tags & Keywords : leadership