haiyan

this was the email i sent to my boss regarding super typhoon yolanda:

On November 8, super typhoon Haiyan (also known as Yolanda in the Philippines), struck the eastern portion of the Philippines. It is one of the strongest typhoons in recorded history with sustained winds of up to 315 km/h (195 mph). Upon its first landfall on Guiuan, Eastern Samar, it officially became the strongest landfalling typhoon ever. Haiyan/Yolanda made several landfalls in Bantayan Island, Panay and Busuanga before leaving the Philippine area of responsibility Saturday afternoon. The super typhoon left utter devastation not only in remote coastal towns but also in major urban centers such as Tacloban City, Ormoc City, Roxas City, among many provinces in the Visayas, southern Luzon and northeastern Mindanao. Storm surges as high as second storey building struck Tacloban City, leaving trail of destruction, cutting off communication lines, with Leyte governor fearing at least 10,000 people dead in the province of Leyte alone. Government agencies estimate that Haiyan/Yolanda destroyed 70-80% of the areas in its path as it tore through Samar, Leyte, northern Cebu, Iloilo, Capiz, Aklan and northern Palawan.

Food, medicines, water, clothing are badly needed, especially in areas where authorities have yet to reach due to damage to highways and infrastructure and till now, communications are still down in most of the affected areas, especially in Eastern Visayas. Any aid or donation would be greatly appreciated.

due to utter devastation, looting also became prevalent in tacloban city. but of course, lawlessness only happened because people became so desperate. they had to survive and with the entire city not being reached by any aid for almost 3 days, they had to look for ways to secure food, water and any supplies. this got me thinking about below line...

tsk tsk... i hope that the crooks in the government realize their own lawlessness.