Thanks From The Philippines...
Typhoon Haiyan swept through the country's central region on November 8th, bringing torrential rain and storm surges.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council says 5,796 people are confirmed dead and 1,779 others remain missing.
On Sunday, people in the affected areas attended Masses. In Tacloban, the main city of hard-hit Leyte Island, hundreds of people gathered at a local church from early in the morning and prayed for the victims.
The island's coastal regions still lack electricity and running water.
The Philippine government and international organizations are continuing relief activities, distributing supplies and providing medical services.
They are also trying to speed up reconstruction efforts, including building infrastructure and temporary housing. (Dec. 8, 2013)
And here is a good interview in The Mainichi with a Japanese paramedic who spent the past month helping survivors in Tacloban on the island of Leyte.
Comments
As we saw in Japan in 2011, it is really difficult to catch up to a situation like the Philippines just experienced. Preparation ahead of time means a lot. Households, neighborhoods, towns, should all have supplies and plans ready ahead of time so that when the inevitable happens the response can be immediate and can fill the gap until major help from outside can arrive. Countries most at risk should be mobilizing resources ahead of time as insurance.
And forget the 3 days that we are often told to plan for. Try for 2 weeks minimum.
Here is the list of emergency goods I worked on back in 2005 when at Japan Offspring Fund. I would add "batteries" for your flashlight (make that flashlights). Regular batteries were quickly sold out/pulled from the shelves in the spring of 2011. Some of the goods are for people who live in the immediate vicinity of a nuclear power plant or near chemical plants.
Emergency goods for earthquake and nuclear safety
The following items should be stocked as emergency goods:
Maps
Seaweed (tororo kelp): decreases the intake of radioactive iodine which causes thyroid cancer – eat large quantities
Duct tape and aluminum foil: use to seal windows and doors to avoid radioactive particles to enter
Face masks (One DS3 mask will last 24 hours. DS2 masks last 12 hours or less)
Shoe covers
Polyester gloves
Raincoat
Towels
Head protection (including hair cover)
Band aid
Plastic bags
Garbage bags
General emergency goods
Radio
Flashlight
Water and food
Emergency medical supplies
Sport shoes
Pen/paper
Bank cards
Postal savings book
Valuables