Typhoon Haiyan: The Aftermath

It's to have a environmental hazards blog and not have a post on the recent typhoon in the Philippines. Lat last week, typhoon haiyan hit the country and destroyed nearly everything in its path. The article I read is more about the recovery and relief efforts, but offers stunning facts at the strength of this hazard. The typhoon was measured as one of the strongest ever recorded, and it's estimated it destroyed up to 90% of the structures in its path. Now we have to consider the Philippines isn't necessarily the wealthiest of nations with building structures engineered to stand up to storms, but even with advanced building design, a storm with this strength is going to leave its mark. Also, the death toll is climbing daily, and it's estimated nearly 10,000 have lost their lives do to the storm. Relief efforts are coming from all over with the UN, Red Cross, and US marines all on the ground already in hit areas. Common supplies such as blankets, food, and medical supplies are being delivered hourly for the survivors. Win gusts were measured at 175 miles per hour. An estimated 9.5 million were affected. 630,000 plus were forced from their homes. This is the best example I've written about on this blog so far of just the absolute strength of nature and the affects it can have. All we can do as society in cases like this is make sure our relief efforts are made rapidly, not wasting that precious time following the hazard to get in right away and save as many lives as possible. It appears every effort is being made to save as many lives as possible, but the overall strength of an environmental hazard has never been more clear. http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/11/10/21389125-it-was-like-a-tsunami-philippines-stunned-by-typhoon-haiyans-devastation-as-us-forces-head-to-islands