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Rage of Yolanda: A Look Back and a Step Forward

The second half of 2013 was a challenging season for the Philippines. At the heels of the magnitude 7.2 earthquake that shook Bohol on October 15 came Super Typhoon Haiyan, known by Filipinos as “Bagyong Yolanda.” Two years later, we look back at how massively this typhoon affected the country, and how Filipinos united to rise from the disaster.

Not an Ordinary Typhoon
Based on the climatological records of Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), tropical cyclones that enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) during the month of November have a higher chance of hitting the landmass. Proof of this is Yolanda, which traversed the country last November 2013. Since the typhoon originated from the Pacific Ocean, Yolanda gained considerable strength as it headed towards the Philippines.

Yolanda became one of the world’s most disastrous typhoons that year. Within a day, six landfall activities were recorded by PAGASA. On November 8, 2013, Yolanda hit the following areas:
– Guiuan, Eastern Samar
– Tolosa, Leyte
– Daanbantayan, Cebu
– Bantayan Island, Cebu
– Concepcion, IloIlo
– Busuanga, Palawan

yolanda landfall

The Yolanda Aftermath
Yolanda exited the PAR on November 9, 2013, leaving a horrific view of Leyte and Samar. Dead bodies, debris, uprooted trees and displaced electrical posts blanketed the streets after the passage of the powerful typhoon.

Aside from flash floods and landslides, the intense winds of the typhoon triggered storm surges that devoured Leyte, especially the city of Tacloban. Some Taclobanons said it was like the entire sea had crawled over the land.

Based on the final update from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), at least 6,000 people were reported dead, while more than a thousand persons are still missing. More than 3 thousand families were affected in Regions IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, X, XI and CARAGA. The combined power of rains, winds and waves smashed almost 1.2 million houses.

NDRRMC also recorded a total of almost 90 billion pesos worth of damage. By virtue of Proclamation No.682, a state of national calamity was declared on November 11, 2013.

Photo by: Manuelito Romano
Photo by: Manuelito Romano

Recovery and Rehabilitation
From the barangay captains to the officers of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC), assessment operations and immediate response were done, even while Yolanda raged on.

Thirst and hunger were the primary concerns of the survivors. People were begging for food and water. It seemed that Yolanda left nothing behind but misery.

But as the rain poured, so did aid. Many organizations, both local or international, began to offer help and assistance for the affected families. Relief goods and other necessities gradually relieved the situation.

Meanwhile, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) says we need to take recovery and rehabilitation efforts to the next level. Here are some of the highlights of the press statement released by NEDA on November 5, 2015.

“We are happy to report that we are on track in completing infrastructure projects. Majority of the roads, bridges, ports and telecommunication facilities, which are key in restoring economic activity, have already been reconstructed and even upgraded for resiliency.

…we are pleased to know that education and health services have been restored, now with better facilities such as climate-resilient buildings.”

Tacloban now
As Tacloban commemorates Yolanda’s second anniversary, the city government have set activities for the people to remember their loved ones who suffered from the Super Typhoon. Everyone is encouraged to continue moving forward from the catastrophe.

tacloban

Climate Change and Typhoons
Scientists and climate experts have observed the link between the continuous rise in ocean temperatures and extreme weather events. Climate change has become an inevitable global concern. In fact, the Philippines is included in the 20 countries vulnerable to Climate Change impacts.

According to Dr. Rosa Perez from the National Panel of Technical Expert of Climate Change Commission, Climate Change is driven by natural and human-induced factors. But the major problem now is the human activities that contribute to higher emission of greenhouse gases (GHGs).

As more GHGs are trapped in the atmosphere, the earth becomes warmer, inducing temperatures to soar. When water is heated, it expands. This is why the sea level has also risen throughout the years. Higher sea level could also bring higher storm surges and may cause flooding in more inland areas.

Warmer oceans also generate intense typhoons, like what happened to Yolanda. From a low pressure area (LPA), it developed into a strong typhoon while traversing the Pacific Ocean – where an ample amount of heat and moisture contributed to the cyclone’s intensification.

noaa

Storm Surge Preparedness
The stronger the typhoon, the higher the risk of storm surges. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), a storm surge is a rise in the water level above the predicted astronomical tide due to the presence of a storm. It occurs when strong winds associated with the cyclone pushes the ocean water toward the shore.

Certain factors like topography and water depth affect the storm surge. A storm surge also becomes more dangerous in areas with a gently sloping seafloor because no barrier hinders the waves from going further inland.

As we learn from the past and continue to rise from the disaster, resiliency is not enough. We must be educated on disaster preparedness. Storm surge drills are practiced in the local community to educate the people about the basics of a storm surge and how to respond to a calamity.

Panahon TV Yolanda Special Segment

Related articles: Top 5 Things You Need to Know about Storm Surges

Sources: PAGASA-DOST
NOAA
NDRRMC

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