Solidarity Amidst Calamity - reporting floods in Silay.
Solidarity Amidst Calamity
Disaster. Devastating. Dreadful. How does one merge these three words simultaneously to reveal the unforeseen tragedy that drenched the city of Silay in the province of Negros Occidental on the first day of the year? As Silaynons—residents of Silay—embraced the New Year’s Day, their attentiveness instantly arose when the floodwaters invaded their homes due to the nonstop rainfall, leaving them to struggle and seize their current situation while anticipating urgent assistance. Despite the pandemic’s threat to one’s health and safety, the acts of solidarity and heroism still prevailed among the Silaynons as they offered support and relief to those households, who screamed for help, by making use of social media platforms, consolidating efforts, and demanding accountability.
At the peak of the massive flooding, a lot of affected families utilized the availability of different social media platforms—such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram—to appeal for rescue and assistance. With the need for immediate assistance, a variety of individuals who may not be able to help straightaway have made use of their resources to reach out to more people by means of sharing verified and credible information, including rescue posts and emergency hotline numbers to increase their awareness. By merely reposting and retweeting, these minor ways were fused together and have been converted into a major contribution. As every Silaynons’ feed has been overwhelmed with requests for help, Silay Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (SDRRM) along with the Emergency Operating Center of the Local Government Unit (LGU) have organized these demands for quicker response.