Chapter 45 - 45 - Evacuate!

The next morning, by 6:01 a.m., it gets worse and worse. The winds are getting higher and stronger, another sign that the storm is now near to the coastal waters of the city. Rain is now more heavier and lightning and thunder is now more often. Outside, objects are being blown away across the neighborhood by the winds, and due to the combined forces of rain and wind, it's almost impossible to see through, nor walk through. The sky is filled with clouds and the sun was blocked by it, depriving the ground of sunlight. So, Rico woke up and yawn a bit while stretching his arms wide for a second, only to be surprised by a sound of a thunder and a flash of a lightning. Also, Rico's Pokémon got surprised as well, awakening them from their sleep, and jumped to their Trainer's bed in fear.

"It's okay, you three," Rico calmed them down softly and gently. "I'll protect you from this stormy situation."

Downstairs, Lucas was sitting at the dining room while watching the news in his smartphone while having a cup of coffee and Rosario was cooking hot food in the kitchen. Rico and his team then suddenly went downstairs, greeting them good morning.

"Good morning, son," Lucas greeted him back.

"Morning, Rico," Rosario greeted him. Rico then grabbed the TV remote from the coffee table and turned on the TV. The TV shows the region's morning news show and it seems that it talks about the morning weather.

"The storm had recently made its landfall on the coastal waters of Kawayan an hour ago," the weather reporter makes her headline, "The winds are more than 100 kilometers per hour and now moving west-west towards the west side of the region. Storm surges will be much powerful in the next few hours." As the news went on and on, Rico sat down to eat. Rosario then finished cooking and serve it to her family and now proceeds to feed the Pokémon with their special food.

"How's the weather, dad?" Rico asked his father. Rosario then sat down and eat up.

"It's getting closer and closer," replied Lucas back, "but we have to wait for the evacuation announcement to call us." Meanwhile, in the same time, Kolen's compound had its entrances blocked with piles of sacks of sand to prevent flooding; almost all of the businesses and other places of recreation are closed due to the storm; all schools and universities, both public and private, are closed and their students and staffs are at their homes for safety.

"Wow, that's scary," Rico commented, "and I hoped that they will tell us what to do." They then resumed eating. At TV, the weather reporter warned those who watched, "Make sure to follow the instructions for evacuation and evacuate to nearest-" her sentence was cut off when the power of the neighborhood got cut off, depriving them of power, mostly also heating and lighting. Cooling in this kind of weather is rare due to the temperatures being low. It turns out that a transformer of a power post was struck by a lightning, blowing it up and deprived the neighborhood power. This alerts everyone, regardless of class and status, including the Cruz family. After a flash of lightning flashed for a second, Rico exclaimed, "Ah! No power!" His Pokémon also commented in response. In alert and had knew what to do in this kind of situation, Lucas grabbed a portable emergency lamp from the kitchen counter, placed it onto the dining table, and turned it on, illuminating light across the first floor. Rosario then get some white wax candles from a drawer, grabbed a box of matches, and light them up. She then placed the newly lit candles in glasses and cups and put them in the dining room and kitchen counter, adding more light to the dark floor. They then all continue eating.

Later by 7:58 a.m., after breakfast, Lucas and Rico are tuning in in their radio set for instructions and weather updates, while Rosario was washing dishes. Their Pokémon are together, shivering in fear.

"All districts of Kawayan City had just declared a citywide blackout," the radio news host announced, "due to a fact that the power station had shut down its electric supply to prevent any harm nor damage to the power posts." As it went on and on, Rico commented in attention, "I thought only a lightning struck to a power post."

"All those who lived in and near coastal areas," the radio news host continued, "must evacuate immediately to the nearest evacuation centers before storm surges worsens. Here are the areas in high risk of flooding." That host then mentioned the names of the coastal areas presented in the city, including where Rico and his family lived. Their neighborhood is just less than 2 kilometers away from the coast, but it is still in high risk of flooding. Hearing this, Lucas stand up and declared with a bold voice, "Alright, everyone, let's pack up and evacuate." They then start by packing their backpacks and portable plastic boxes with supplies like food, water, medicines, blankets, etc. Their Pokémon are helping out as well to speed up the packing. At one portable plastic box with lid, they put in their phones, chargers, headsets and headphones, some important documents, papers, and books, and some towels to keep them safe. And the box itself was wrapped in a thick bath towel to prevent any damages inside. One backpack contains a ŀȧptop, its accessories, clothes, shampoos, boxes of soaps, and some necessities. They also brought a roller bag full of sacks of Pokémon food and some cans of ready-to-eat food. In total, they packed up over 4 bags and 1 portable plastic box in just an hour. Now they are now well prepared.

By 8:00 a.m., they stepped out in the windy and rainy environment to evacuate, in their thick raincoats. Their Pokémon are in their Poké Balls for safety. The winds are blowing against them and their raincoats and belongings as they tried to resist their speeds.

"Come on, the evacuation center is this way!" Lucas told them as he pointed towards somewhere higher. The wife and son then obeyed him, and they all start trekking to the higher grounds through the windy and rainy environment. Other families are also out of their homes to evacuate as well, following the instructions of the government for safety. All the wild Pokémon hid underground or at stronger hiding places like sheds from the storm in fear, but some of them are being taken by residents to give them shelter and protection. The owned ones are always in their Poké Balls for safety. The lights and candles are off, so fire isn't a problem.

Later, as they trek through the steady slope towards their destination, the Cruz family crossed paths with Raymond and his parents and grandmother, who also followed the instructions.

"Mr. Cruz!" Raymond's mother called them.

"Oh, Jane!" Lucas called them back.

"You guys too?" Rosario asked them in desperate.

"Yes!" Raymond's grandmother, Martha, answered them back as she grabbed on her raincoat and blanket. "We are!" After some exchange of looks, they all continued their trek.

By 8:32 a.m., all of them had arrived at a regional evacuation center, where most of the residents, mostly living along and near the coasts, are waiting and resting, with their Pokémon and belongings. This place is one of the evacuation centers in the city, built over 50 years ago when the city is just a small town. Upon arriving there, they went to an open space and put their belongings down, and sat down in exhaustion. They were wet, but not too soaking, thanks to the raincoats. Everyone are in despair and constant fear; linens, bedsheets, and blankets are used to make dividers and tents, hung up on ropes; their belongings, mostly in bags and boxes, are mostly safe and rarely get wet, while others are badly wet and had to be dry. Pokémon there, mostly owned by residents are cooperating with the others by serving food and drinks, wrapping wounds and scratches with bandages and plasters, and giving the sick ones medicines when needed. The two-story large building is dark, but with some lights provided by large emergency lamps attached on walls, everything is normally illuminated, thanks to the saved power by solar panels. The center staff are busy trying to calm down those who were crying, wailing, panicking, and complaining, and ȧssisting to their needs. It was a scene of cooperation and despair.

As everyone does their doing, Rico leaned against the white-painted wall in exhaustion and putting his backpack beside him.

"Man, that was insanely strong," he thought in commentary, "but we're lucky to survive...." But before he could continue thinking, Rico suddenly saw a young man across the corridor, all soaking wet and in despair. That man, a Pokémon Trainer named Jacob, is a Trainer from the Tahod region. He had cool clothes and a huge sword, usually for battling. He had a nice shirt cape with sharp zigzag designs in the end lines. His pants and shoes are really matched his color and style. In all, he was more of a warrior than an ordinary Trainer.

In deep concern, Rico stand up and went across the corridor, approached him, and asked, "Are you okay, sir?" Upon noticing young concerning kid, Jacob responded, "Yes, I am." Getting an unowned blanket and wrapped Jacob's wet back with it in compassion, Rico replied, "You're soaking wet. You must wipe it off before you catch a cold or something." Feeling being clothed, Jacob responded with humility, "Thank you, kid." Rico then smiled in happiness. At this point, compassion is one of Rico's traits inherited from his parents.

Later, as the winds and waves wreck havoc on the coastal parts of the island, and the other towns, cities, and villages are in evacuation and danger, Rico asked Jacob, "So, where you came from?"

"From the Tahod region," replied Jacob back.

"Oh, I see," Rico get it now, "and, are you a warrior?"

"Yes, I'm a sword master," Jacob replied in coolness.

"Woah, he's so cool," Rico thought in commentary of amazement. He then think for a bit, making Jacob ask him, "What are you thinking about?" Thinking about something, Rico suddenly realized about the Starlys confined in a tiny shack in a beach village. He then think that they are now in danger of the winds, rain, and lightning. In full and extreme alert, Rico stand up and said to Jacob, "I forgot about the Starlys in a shack in a beach! I must save them before it's too late!" He then grabbed a nearby unowned bird cage and his raincoat and ran towards the outside. Standing up in surprise, Jacob catch up with Rico and followed him, exclaiming, "Wait up, kid! You can't just go outside in the storm alone!" Both of them disappeared into the wind and rain. But, can they rescue the Starlys before the storm gets worse?