LESSONS FROM A CATASTROPHE

On November 8, 2013, Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) wreaked havoc in the Eastern Visayas, leaving a death toll of more than 6,000. After staying in our country for sixteen hours, last year’s strongest typhoon in the entire planet traversed the West Philippine Sea and finally exited the Philippine Area of Responsibility.

The storm surges brought by the cyclone have caused massive destruction especially in Guiuan in Eastern Samar, Tacloban in Leyte, and the seaside communities of Palawan.  The National Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) responded by deploying 35,463 personnel, 1,351 vehicles, 163 aircraft and 118 sea vessels to the devastated areas, where power outages and breakdown of telecommunication systems were reported.

Twenty-five international humanitarian agencies arrived in Tacloban to assist the victims, and address the needs and damages brought about by the typhoon. It was said to be the biggest disaster response, relief and recovery effort in our nation’s history.

According to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), rehabilitation and reconstruction of the affected areas will need at least more than 300 billion pesos. The NDRRMC states that rebuilding the affected areas will take three to five years.

Emergency and evacuation plans were well plotted in different islands of the country, but the strength of Yolanda was more these could handle.  Now, measures are being taken to ensure citizen preparedness for such calamities. In line with this, the NDRMCC recommended that Storm Surge Advisories should be raised two days before the expected onslaught of the hazard.