In 2021 and in the midst of a pandemic, I had to excuse myself from remote work to attend to mobilizing a team of youth leaders in aiding rescue efforts during a surprise flood in November. The nearby Cagayan river overflowed. Everyone was baffled– we did not experience any major rainfall in our area, citizens were uninformed and unprepared for the flood.
Typhoon fatigue is taking its toll on my circle of family and friends from back home. Health officials have reportedly warned of burnout, depression and exhaustion among relief workers faced with continuous devastation and people forced to evacuate multiple times.
[aerial photo] severe flooding in Tuguegarao City and neighboring towns around Cagayan River, the longest and largest river in the Philippines