3 Q7: Can you walk us through the day that super typhoon hit your place? How was it like? A7: One (1) week before Typhoon Haiyan came, we were already informed by Commissioner Yeb Saño5 to keep safe because Camotes will be potentially hit based on the different typhoon tracker or model projection. We did an emergency MDRRMC meeting for all members to ensure all preparedness actions will be taken and LGU’s capacities will be assessed. We did Recorida (public announcement) to all fifteen (15) barangays aside from our written advisory. The day before the typhoon passed in our town, we, the DRRM front liners, were already exhausted from answering the needs in the evacuation areas where we already evacuated thousands of vulnerable families living in the danger zone. In our office, before the electricity was cut off around past 12:00 midnight, we had already a sort of confirmation that for all the models and paths stated that we were surely be hit, but we were thinking that it would arrive late as expected. Before I left the Emergency Operation Center (EOC), my friend from Albay told me that, based on their typhoon tracker, Haiyan will landfall as early as expected. I came to a realization that I have never safeguarded all my important belongings in the house and our preparedness is not yet enough. We do not have any man in the house who can do all the carpentry works, such as putting additional wood cover in the window and main door to prevent the entry of the rain. The whole night I could not sleep since we were monitoring the situation in our town. Past 7:00 in the morning, we transferred to the rooms where we felt that my kids and I will be safe. Afterwards, I heard people knocking on our doors. Some of my neighbors evacuated to our house. They already occupied our two rooms, our living room, and kitchen. Some arrived wet and do not have any milk for their two (2) months old child. They immediately transferred to our house during the height of strong winds and rains. Earlier, I got news that Tacloban was badly hit due to storm surge after Yolanda’s landfall in the city. After hearing this news, I called our team leader in the Camotes Islands Emergency Response Team (CiERT) to monitor families living in the coastal shores, which San Francisco has eleven (11) coastal barangays. I recalled that time, when the CiERT team dropped by in my house and asked permission if they can do rescue operation for some families of co-responders whose houses were already damaged. I insisted for them not to go because it was no longer safe, as the winds became stronger. But I could not stop them from their brave intention to save families that are in need of help, especially that family of one of our responders whose wife and children were involved. 5 Then Commissioner of the Climate Change Commission