Today, November 1, we are in the midst of one of the strongest typhoons to hit the shores of the Philippines.
It is the strangest experience ever for our country -- an island archipelago bound by the Pacific on the eastern side and by the South China Sea on the western side. There are over 7,000 islands in our archipelago.
img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/BB1aAzO9.img?h=460&w=540&m=6&q=60&o=f&l=f*Winds (as strong as our most destructive typhoon in recent years - called Haiyan/Yolanda)
*Storm Surges in the seas (like tsunamis except it originates from the ocean waves being disturbed by the powerful winds)
*Floods ( as much as our most destructive flooding - Ondoy - in Metro Manila)
*Lahar (volcanic mud) flows from recently erupted volcano
*Landslide of car-sized boulders, burying some parts of populated areas
*Loss of power in many places...and even communication facilities
*Destruction of infrastructure and property...and
*Sadly, Loss of lives
However, on the positive side --
*The typhoon/storm spared originally-forecast storm center Metro Manila ( population of over 10 million)..and struck more southward. At first, we thought it was the eerie feeling of quiet when the eye of a storm hits...but it turned out to be nature sparing this most populous center in the country.
*It made 4 landfalls, which lessens the force of the winds
*For almost a decade now, the country has had a disaster and risk management program and infrastructure in place ( before, during, and recovery) although with the current pandemic situation, there is need to observe additional requirements to minimize its impact in evacuation centers...and also to seek additional resources given that much of financial aid to this date have focused on the pandemic impact
*Evacuations are more readily enforceable -- not too many insist on staying in their homes, so forced evacuation is less of an issue.
*Because of the pandemic situation, open-air cemeteries have been ordered closed for today, November 1 ( All Saints Day - usually a day spent in cemeteries to honor departed kin) and for a few more days...so that turned out to be a blessing because people were at home.
Most of all, our country is blessed with a national trait called " bayanihan" - a very, very strong spirit of cooperation and helping others -- and it is not much more evident than seeing the efforts of national government offices, local government units, private organizations and people trying to help each other.
Hopefully, the storm/typhoon will depart via the West Philippine sea by tomorrow...although another storm has now entered our area of responsibility ( in the parlance of the weather bureau). Not unusual as we generally run through the alphabet during the year for local names to this force of nature. We are now with typhoon "S", as "R" departs.
Jo
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