11 November 2013
The most
powerful typhoon that is said to have made a landfall caused, so far, a
confirmed loss of hundreds of lives (but with grave fears of higher levels) as
well as damage to private property and infrastructure, mostly in the Visayas.
The final
magnitude of the damage it caused is still slowly unfolding while this article
is being written, as the government gradually re-establishes access to the
affected and isolated LGUs, and restores the various means of communication.
This
typhoon, which the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (of the US Navy and US Air
Force based in Hawaii) began monitoring on November 2 - as if formed in the
Pacific Ocean – was upgraded into a Tropical Storm (and assigned the name
Haiyan) by the Japan Meteorological Agency on November 4, and intensified into
a typhoon by November 5. It further
strengthened into a super (or Category 5) typhoon on November 6 before it
entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility on November 7. By this time, already assigned with its local
name “Yolanda”, it progressed along the country’s eastern seaboard towards
Eastern Visayas and made the first of its five landfalls at 4:40 A.M. of
November 8 in Guiuan, Eastern Samar, with an estimated sustained winds of 315
km/h, and gusts up to 378 km/h (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Typhoon_Haiyan).
The
government was not remiss in monitoring and preparing for the storm. While
still focused on the Tropical Depression Wilma which made a landfall on
November 4 in Surigao del Sur - and brought heavy rains over large parts of
Mindanao and the Visayas, PAGASA’s weather forecasters already noted the
existence of Haiyan/Yolanda. The forecasters also indicated a high possibility
of the typhoon hitting land because of the prevalence during this part of the
year of northeasterly winds that tends to push a “typhoon’s path” further down
(towards the South part of the country).
On November
5, as Wilma weakened and on her way to the West Philippine Sea, PAGASA advised
the public to “brace” for storm Haiyan indicating that it could intensify into
a super typhoon and, moving westward at 25 kph, is expected to make landfall
over the Leyte-Samar Area Friday afternoon, November 8.
This
development triggered the National Risk Reduction and Management Council to
place nine regions in the country (namely Caraga, Northern Mindanao, Central,
Eastern and Western Visayas, Bicol Region, Southern Tagalog, and Metro Manila)
under Blue alert to prepare for the typhoon.
With just
about 2-1/2 days of lead time the government scrambled to prepare to mitigate
the damaging effects of the super typhoon; notably the governors of Cebu, Bohol
and Albay were among the first reported to have suspended classes in all levels
in their provinces starting November 7 –
with the Albay governor even including suspension of all government offices on
that day.
Interior
and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas, reportedly, also tasked on November 6
“…local officials in the Visayas and Bicol Regions to prepare their
constituents for the expected onslaught of the typhoon…activate their local
DRRMCs and disaster monitoring systems…immediately adopt measures to
effectively warn residents, particularly those living along the coastlines and
other danger areas…seek assistance from the local police, the Bureau of Fire
Protection, the Philippine Coast Guard, and other first responder units in case
there is any need to evacuate residents from danger zones…mobilize all
government vehicles that may be needed in the evacuation process and put in
place search and rescue teams…[as well as]identify and prepare evacuation
centers and preposition relief goods for distribution” (PhilStar, November 7).
President
Aquino meanwhile – and also on the same day “…directed Defense Secretary
Voltaire Gazmin to take charge of preparations…and exert all effort to attain
the zero casualty goal.”
At this
point in time, the NDRRMC had already mobilized all its attached agencies,
particularly those that are in the Visayas Region; the Philippine coast Guard
had mobilized newly acquired boats for rescue operations, the PNP had activated
its Disaster Incident Management Task,
the NCRPO had been alerted for possible rescue operations in the Metro Manila
cities perennially usually submerged by floodwaters, and the DSWD had also
prepositioned emergency relief resources, composed of standby funds, family
food packs as well as non-food items in the regions that would be affected.
On the
evening of November 7, the President once more addressed the nation and warned
that Yolanda would be worse than Typhoon Pablo which caused more than a
thousand deaths in Eastern Mindanao last year. And although he informed the
public that all the disaster and risk management councils in the threatened
regions are ready, he prayed that the super typhoon would not cause much
damage.
He also
mentioned other preparations such as having consulted with the DOST and the
Mines and Geosciences Bureau regarding ideas on how to deal with the monster
typhoon, as well as his sending Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin and DILG
Secretary Mar Roxas to Leyte to lead the preparations there. He also added that
the three C-130 cargo planes as well as 32 other planes and helicopters of the
PAF are already standing by, and 20 ships from the Philippine Navy are already
positioned (in Cebu, Bicol, Cavite and Zamboanga) and ready for relief and
rescue operations.
The
President also called on the public to help lessen the impact of the storm and
consult with the websites of the PAGASA and the MGB to have a better idea on
the danger conditions in their area.
Despite
all of these effort by the National Government, its concerned agencies (like
the NDRRMC, DND, DILG, DOST, PAGASA, MGB, DSWD, AFP, PNP, etc.) and the
concerned LGUs, it was just no match against the fury of a super typhoon that
packs winds of 315 km/h, and gusts of up to 378 km/h that not only demolished
even concrete structures but also completely isolated the ravaged areas both
physically and in terms of complete communication block out.
Due to
space limitations, the lessons that can be gained from the Yolanda experience
shall be covered in the next column as Part 2 of this article. Meanwhile,
comments/reactions will be appreciated and can be sent through this writer’s
email (sl3.mekaniko @gmail.com) or this writer’s blog (http://mekaniko-sl3.blogspot.com)
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