Haiyan

Question 1

when was it

Answer 1

November 2013

Question 2

scale/magnitude

Answer 2

• category five typhoon,
• It is one of the most powerful typhoons to affect the Philippines. - Wind speeds of 314 kilometres per hour were recorded.

Question 3

primary impacts

Answer 3

• Struck close to Tacloban, a highly urbanised city. Many dwellings were improper or ‘shanty’ settlements. 90% of the city, and nearly all of these were destroyed, up to 1 million houses were damaged.
• 6190 people lost their lives, many from being buried alive or washed out in a 5m storm surge, and nearly 30,000 were injured. Sadly, a large amount of these heeded the government’s evacuation orders and filled a Stadium in Tacloban, which was subsequently flooded.
• 4.1 million people were made homeless
• 400mm of rain fell over a few days causing widespread flooding, further damaging airports, ports, and road infrastructure.
• 600,000 hectares of farmland was affected. Losses incurred from the agrarian economy and fishing (fleets of which were destroyed) totalled around $700 Million.

Question 4

secondary impacts

Answer 4

• An oil tanker ran aground, causing an 800,000-litre oil leak that contaminated fishing waters. The led to ten hectares of mangroves being contaminated.
• Subsequent landslides for weeks were reported due to flooding and heavy rain, slowing relief efforts.
• Due to the high mortality rate, morgues were overwhelmed and so mass burials of thousands had to occur to limit spread of diseases.
• Flights and ferry services (critical for the islands’ connectivity) were disrupted for weeks. Many remote communities waited excessive periods for aid supplies, resulting in additional deaths.
• Looting and violence was reported in Tacloban, though this was fairly quickly quashed by police.
• Infection and diseases spread, mainly due to contaminated surface and ground water.
• Survivors fought for food and supplies. Eight people died in a stampede for food supplies.
• Power supplies were cut off for months in some areas.
• Education was disrupted as many schools were destroyed

Question 5

what were the costs of this disaster

Answer 5

• The incurred cost of this disaster was around $10-12 Billion.

Question 6

immediate responses

Answer 6

• The government issued a televised warning to people to prepare and evacuate.
• 800,000 people were evacuated following a televised warning by the president.
• The government provided essential equipment and medical supplies.
• A curfew was introduced two days after the typhoon to reduce looting.
• Over 1,200 evacuation centres were set up to help the homeless.
• Three days after the storm, the main airport was reopened, and emergency aid arrived. Power was restored in some regions after a week. One million food packs and 250,000 litres of water were distributed within two weeks.
• Over $1.5 billion of foreign aid was pledged. Thirty-three countries and international organisations promised help, with rescue operations and an estimated US $ 88.871 million.
• The Red Cross, distributed supplies of rice, canned food, cooking oil, salt and sugar which were prepared before Haiyan made landfall. They also supplied over 1.1 million people with clear water to limit the outbreak of diseases.
• Both Canada and the USA deployed military aircraft to assist the Philippines with search and rescue

Question 7

long term responses

Answer 7

• A cash for work programme paid people to clear debris and rebuild Tacloban
• Oxfam replaced fishing boats.
• The government’s Build Back Better scheme launched in 2014, it intended to upgrade damaged buildings to protect them from future disasters. Pledged 205,000 homes for those living coastally at risk of future typhoons. By 2016, only 1% of this target was hit, however.
• They have set up a no-build zone along the coast
• A new storm surge warning system has been developed
• Mangroves replanted to absorb future storm surges