FIGHTING YOLANDA, A SUPERHEAVY OPPONENT
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 10 Nov 2013
Maasin City, Southern Leyte - She was named Yolanda, feminine in name yet super masculine in strength. For she was a Super Typhoon which struck our region Eastern Visayas that uneventful morning on Friday, November 8.
Yolanda or Haiyan as known internationally has gained infamy as the strongest storm ever known on record to make landfall and the fourth strongest storm ever recorded in the world.
"(Yolanda is) the strongest tropical cyclone on record to make landfall in world history," as quoted by weather websitewunderground.com's Dr. Jeff Masters.
We fought Yolanda by giving intense warning three days before and implemented forced evacuation on hard-headed residents along the shore and rivers and landslide-prone areas. Disaster risk reduction management council worked immediately.
Everybody worked hand-in-hand including the police, firemen, rescuers, maintenance men, health workers, social workers, and barangay folks.
The US-based Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) as reference, Masters said that Yolanda's average strength of 195 mph (314 kph) during landfall surpassed the previous record set in 1969 by Hurricane Camille, which registered 190 mph (306 kph) winds when it landed in Mississippi in the United States.
However, some storms were stronger but their forces diminished upon hitting the land. Not all storms are at their maximum strength when they landfell.
Considering overall strength, Yolanda is officially the fourth strongest tropical cyclone in world history, according to Masters. He said that the all-time record is still held by Super Typhoon Nancy in 1961 at 215 mph (346 kph), followed by Super Typhoon Violet in the same year at 205 mph (323 kph), and Super Typhoon Ida in 1958 with 200 mph (322 kph).
Maasin City and Southern Leyte has zero casualty, but Tacloban and Leyte were not as lucky. It was believed than more than 1,000 people perished there.
Storm surge was not anticipated and it damaged houses and buildings and swept people away. Tsunami-like waves engulfed the city trapping several residents.
In our city, we distributed relief to 6,000 families and cleared all roads of trees and debris. But we will help Tacloban and Leyte amidst our own clearing operations. Their injury is bigger and more brutal. They need more supporters in their cause to survive.
But just like what Manny Pacquiao cried after his devastating KO loss to Juan Manuel Marquez, Eastern Visayas shouts to the whole world: "We will rise again."
Editor's Note: The author (L, above photo) is the mayor of Maasin City in Southern Leyte who is shown here helping clear the roads of debris in Maasin City in the aftermath of Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) which destructively hit Leyte and the Visayas on Friday, Nov. 8.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
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