Typhoon Haiyan Flashcards
Background
8/11/2013
Hit Philippines in the south-east, in Tacloban
Category 5 - 196mph winds
Crossed across south of country, avoiding Manila
15m high storm surge
Vulnerability of Philippines
Limited transport infrastructure
Lightweight building materials
Funnel-shaped bays - huge storm surge
High coastal population
Low lying land
High population density
Lack of warning
Lack of aid
LIC
Primary Impacts
Flooding up to 1km inland
6000 fatalities - most drowning
Buildings not made of concrete were destroyed
Evacuation centre became a death trap when storm surge entered the hall
Widespread damage to buildings and infrastructure
American army officer flying over - “I do not believe there is a single structure that is not destroyed or severely damaged in some way”
Secondary Impacts
No clean water, electricity or food
Mobile phone network damaged
No fuel available and major roads blocked my landslides, making transportation difficult
Fishing industry badly affected
Thousands of coconut trees and paddy fields destroyed leaving 10k families without income
2 mil homeless
Airport damaged by storm surge
Looting and violence breaks out
Short term response
Philippines meteorological agency warned two days before storm hit - 750,000 evacuated
Immediate response from survivors, searching for bodies
Gov. response criticised for being too slow
UK gov. provided food shelter, clean water, medicine for 800,000 victims
Intl. aid took a week to arrive due to damaged airport
No electricity, food or medical supplies a week later as Red Cross convoy ambushed
Long term response
Charities helping people to get their livelihoods back - repairing fishing boats, distributing rice seeds
UN launched an intl. aid appeal in December for $500mil
Public-private partnerships played a big role in rehabilitation:
- Cebu Mactan airport became hub for flights bringing aid
- Restoration of fresh drinking water to hospitals + evacuation centres
1 month after:
- 100,000 remained in evacuation
- 4 mil displaced into temporary homes
