We just moved to a rental home that we really liked. It had enough rooms that would include a home office, playroom and an extra room for a help. It is also a bungalow house – it will save my bad back from constantly carrying Koa up and down the stairs and also lessen the tantrums of having to stay upstairs or go downstairs for meals.

On the third week after our move, the weather was not looking good.

Around 4AM, 24 July 2024, we woke up to strong rains from Bagyong Carina. The water level from outside the home was already at an alarming height. Before our car gets trapped in, we decided to leave the house and head to my in-laws home. My in-laws live in the same subdivision but their house is located in an elevated street which was an ideal shelter to be at. The panic of having to pack our car with the essentials for the next few days for two adults and a toddler is indescribable. But thank God we have a car. Else we would walk out with only the clothes at our backs carrying a cdisoriented and crying toddler.

When daytime came, it was still raining hard. We decided to brave the rain and secure our home and our things. It was a good foresight that my Husband and I decided to buy rain boots the day before. We were able to wade through the flooded streets with our boots on as we prepare in case the flood water will rise.

I was still hopeful that the flood water will not enter the home but it did. Around 12 midnight, the water rose entering the property and the house. When we the water had receded, we went to check the house the next day and saw that water did came into the house around 10 inches inside. By the time we went there, the water had already receded leaving a thin film of mud on the floor.

This was the first time I ever experienced flooding first-hand. And while I was thankful that it did not reach the electricals, I was overwhelmed and stressed with damage we had and the amount of cleaning that we needed to get done.

I want to be positive and say that all is well but truth be told, I am tired. I am tired an overwhelmed from all the cleaning, the things that needed to be disposed, and having to find solutions. I don’t know how people and families who are in flood-prone areas do it? I can not imagine constantly trying to look out for rising flood water and cleaning after a flood. I know that this is a thought that comes along with privilege. And while I am thankful that we are able to bounce back and have help around to get us back on track, it does totally drain one emotionally and mentally.

Resiliency. A word every Filipino after a calamity wears on his shoulders. But behind all that is mental anxiety, stress, sleep deprivation and trauma rolled in a ball suppressed somewhere.

I have always tried to end my post with a good note but it seems I am even at lost for that right now. I promise I will try to share how my heart (and head) is doing after all of this. But for now, I am just looking at the weather app hoping for sunny and brighter days ahead.