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Case Study: Typhoon Haiyan (Immediate Responses (The government provided…
Case Study: Typhoon Haiyan
Background Information
Typhoon Haiyan began in early November 2013 in the Pacific Ocean and then was blown towards the Philippines. The storm was monitored by the Joint Typhoon Warning Centre (JTWC) which made predictions so that some people could be evacuated.
By 7 November, Haiyan was labelled a Category 5 storm, with estimated wind speeds up to 314km/hr.
Typhoon Haiyan occurred on the 8th November 2013. It was one of the strongest tropical storms ever recorded, and deadliest to hit the Philippines.
Economic Impacts
Some 5 million people saw their homes destroyed or become uninhabitable, and the airport was unusable.
Of the total 6340 fatalities (estimated), almost all were in Tacloban.
Tacloban city was by far the worst-hit area. Around 90% of all buildings were destroyed, trees were uprooted or flattened, debris covering the land, electricity supplies were cut and infrastructure and communications destroyed.
Essential infrastructure such as the airport, roads, bridges, electricity supplies and communications were destroyed either by storm surge, winds or later by landslides. This made it difficult to organise the emergency services, slowing the rescue efforts.
Overall cost of damage was around $12 billion.
Social Impacts
In rural Hernani, over 700m away from the sea, the floods were so powerful that bodies were washed out from graves, which caused local people much grief.
6190 people died.
A 7.5m wave reached the coast, and a 5m surge hit Tacloban City. Here, at least 5800 people were killed.
4.1 million people made homeless.
Immediate Responses
The government provided essential equipment and medical supplies. In order to reduce looting a curfew was introduced 2 days after the typhoon.
800,000 people were evacuated following a televised warning by the president. Many people found refuge in a stadium in Tacloban.
International government and aid agencies responded quickly with food aid, water and temporary shelters.
US aircraft carrier George Washington and helicopters assisted with search and rescue and delivery of aid.
The Philippines Red Cross delivered basic food aid, which included rice, canned food, sugar, salt and cooking oil.
French, Belgian and Israeli field hospitals were set up to help the injured.
Long-Term Responses
Build Back Better is the government’s response to the typhoon. Launched in 2014 its intention was to upgrade buildings that were damaged and destroyed to protect them from future disasters.
They have also set up a no-build zone along the coast in Eastern Visayas, a new storm surge warning system has been developed and mangroves have been replanted to absorb future storm surges.
The UN and countries including the UK, Australia, Japan and the US donated financial aid, supplies and medical support.
Aid agencies such as Oxfam supported the replacement of fishing boats, a vital source of income.
Thousands of homes have been built away from areas at risk of flooding.
More cyclone shelters have been built to accommodate people evacuated from coastal areas.
Future Planning
Efforts are being made to improve satellite and computer monitoring to improve prediction in the future.
Some soft engineering schemes like creating mangrove plantations or tree plantations are being introduced to reduce the impact of waves and to provide windbreaks.
The government has also worked to improve warning systems and emergency plans for next time, and the internet is being used more to inform people.
Government's Response
The government was criticised for its slow response to this event.
A week after the typhoon had struck President Benigno Aquino was under growing pressure to speed up the distribution of networks or food, water and medicine to desperate survivors and to get paralysed local governments functioning.
However, the Philippines formally declared "A State of National Calamity" and asked for international help; one day after the Haiyan hit the country.