The Phillipines!

Diwundrin

Diwundrin

Well-known Member
Location
Nth Coast NSW Australia
I'm not reknowned for a soft heart but what's happened to them is just gutting.

In the immortal words of the somewhat tri-national Russel Crowe.
"God Bless America, God Defend New Zealand, and Thank Christ for Australia!" because you wouldn't want to be a Fillipino today.

I guess you've been seeing the footage of the essentially utter wipe-out of their entire Country?

We have our hurricanes fires floods and assorted disasters but they never take the whole bleeding lot!
There's always a bit left untouched to support the damaged part. Even Fukashima hasn't had the impact this typhoon has wreaked on the Phillipines. The typhoon was bigger than the Country, there can't have been much that isn't at least damaged.
They have essentially nothing left. Anywhere.

If of course the reports aren't even more hyperbolic than usual, but the pictures tell the story. http://www.itv.com/news/2013-11-10/in-pictures-devastation-in-the-philippines-after-typhoon-haiyan/

No clean water. No food. No medical assistance. No power. No shelter, and little hope of seeing anywhere near enough of them in the near future. Even the cities are wrecked, we can only imagine how long the rural folk will have to wait for help to arrive.
They are suddenly back in the stone age. Millions of them. More than our entire population! I think the estimated death toll of 10,000 is going fall short as time passes and the injured succumb to enforced neglect.

All of our countries are sending in teams, full field hospitals, rescue teams, supplies, army personnel etc are on the way, but, where would you start? Who can forget Haiti post earthquake, or Japan post tsunami? This one could dwarf both.

Oh, and there's another typhoon building and showing signs of following the path of the big one. Just what they need least.
This last one was the 2nd 'record' breaker to hit them since just last December. They were still cleaning up after that one.


They're a resiliant, hard working people, but this will try them out, big time.
They're not sitting around wailing, they're doing all they can do for themselves with what they have left, clearing the roads of debris and looking for survivors while waiting for help and supplies from elsewhere. They'll need all we can send them.

It takes things like this to make us realise just how totally dependent we are on technology to support the human race doesn't it?
Without it most of us are just helpless creatures exposed to the elements.
 

... and they're looting the stores and taking big-screen TVs. Pretty hard to explain THAT from a survival point of view.

Proves they're just as human as the next guy, and a little more American than you might suspect.
 

Yeah, I just saw that too Phil, can't imagine how much they'd be worth at the moment though. I prefer to see them looting TVs than food but then that seems to be in shorter supply and no doubt better guarded. siiiigh.

But ain't humans grand? They never disappoint do they?
 
Since Haiti's earthquake, it might hurt their cause to feel the United Nations will want to come running with help ...


The devastation Haiti was hit with by the 2010 earthquake was compounded upon by a serious cholera epidemic. Tragically, the U.N. peacekeepers deployed to Haiti to help out are being blamed for the cholera epidemic. The Telegraph reported on Oct. 9, 2013, "UN sued for billions of dollars by victims of Haiti cholera epidemic."
The United Nations is being sued for billions of dollars by Haitian victims of a cholera outbreak. Scientists have linked U.N. peacekeepers who were deployed in the country after its devastating 2010 earthquake to this deadly epidemic. A lawsuit has been filed in New York asking the U.N. to pay compensation for the thousands of Haitians who have been killed or injured by the cholera outbreak ever since October 2010.
Click to expand...


http://www.examiner.com/article/haitians-sue-united-nations-over-cholera-epidemic
 
The devastation is just so total. they have been able to get supplies of food and water into the only airstrip where they could land the transports. However, once on the ground the destruction is so bad, it is almost impossible to get it to the people.The first real relief ship will not reach them until the end of the week.

I know we see scenes of people looting big screen TV and other useless items. But there are a lot more of heroic things happening, that we will here about.

We need to keep them in our thoughts and prayers, and help if we can even if it is only a few dollars.
 
Just watching the BBC feed and seems the most immediate assistance so far there is being done by a private company. It's a big Phillipines construction/transport co., Aboitiz, but they were on the spot and have gotten straight into providing water and food and are organizing shelters.
Gee eh? Imagine that. Big business doing the right thing, for their own people, at their own expense just because they felt they should. Who'da thought?.

I was just surprised to learn that Saudi Arabia is sending in aid. They're a strange lot, they didn't do much, that I heard about anyway, for Indonesia, a fellow Moslem Country, after their tsunami, yet are doing it for the Phillipines which is largely Catholic Christian. It's a strange world isn't it?

You know what has annoyed me more than the looters now raiding warehouses, which I guess is their way of securing food for their kids??

The shameless bastards who are standing up demanding "action on climate change". Using this tragedy as leverage to push their agenda, which even if they get implemented to their satisfaction, and presuming they are even right, can make not one iota of difference to the weather for the best part of a Century. They are implying that instant taxes and copious funding to their Green industries will stop typhoons happening now!
Shysters. Carpetbaggers!
 
Horrible destruction, loss of life and continuing misery. People I know here are having trouble reaching loved ones in the area and fear the worst.
 
Not to appear to be one of Di's carpetbaggers or shysters, but a natural disaster such as this is one of the prime reasons that survivalists and preppers do what they do.

What is the biggest concern for them right now? Water, food, shelter and sanitation, in order of importance. At least the first two could be stocked-up to a point where there is enough for every family member for at least 4 days. "Go" bags, also known as "bug-out bags", would have been a help as well - they are usually based upon a 72-hour survival scenario but of course could be modified.

Think about whatever natural disaster your local area is subject to, and what you would do if it struck with the magnitude that this typhoon has. Are you prepared. or are you going to be just another person exposed to the scavengers and the escaped prisoners that are looting and killing to get what they want?
 
Diwundrin said:
You know what has annoyed me more than the looters now raiding warehouses, which I guess is their way of securing food for their kids??

The shameless bastards who are standing up demanding "action on climate change". Using this tragedy as leverage to push their agenda, which even if they get implemented to their satisfaction, and presuming they are even right, can make not one iota of difference to the weather for the best part of a Century. They are implying that instant taxes and copious funding to their Green industries will stop typhoons happening now!
Shysters. Carpetbaggers!
Click to expand...

Do you mean this fellow? I think he has the right, considering how vulnerable his people are

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yITq61XedI&feature=youtu.be
 
SifuPhil said:
Not to appear to be one of Di's carpetbaggers or shysters, but a natural disaster such as this is one of the prime reasons that survivalists and preppers do what they do.

What is the biggest concern for them right now? Water, food, shelter and sanitation, in order of importance. At least the first two could be stocked-up to a point where there is enough for every family member for at least 4 days. "Go" bags, also known as "bug-out bags", would have been a help as well - they are usually based upon a 72-hour survival scenario but of course could be modified.

Think about whatever natural disaster your local area is subject to, and what you would do if it struck with the magnitude that this typhoon has. Are you prepared. or are you going to be just another person exposed to the scavengers and the escaped prisoners that are looting and killing to get what they want?
Click to expand...


On the Gulf Coast, the following is what we get in Hurricane Booklets every year and is drummed into our heads around the first of June. It becomes second nature for long time residents. ...even though all has been quiet for sometime now..

Also, a potential dangerous storm headed in the general direction with high winds and/or flooding that means GET OUT.. best to have a vehicle ready, filled with gas to head in a safe direction. We have hurricane evaluation routes assigned, and people are told to leave by zip codes.
Lived over a week without power during Hurricane Ike (although of course nothing like what they just went thru in the Phillipines) - had much wind damage in the area .. and the following list helped to make it bearable and get by.
What we are told to have: ... and I add to the list if you have to leave your home with animals --- dog/cat crates, for animals on edge.

Hurricane Preparedness Supply List / Kit:

  • First aid kit (bandages, gauze, scissors, aspirin, antacids, hydrogen peroxide, rubbing alcohol, antiseptic spray and thermometer)
  • Flashlight and/or lantern
  • Extra batteries (various sizes)
  • Matches and/or butane lighter
  • Can opener (manual/non-electric)
  • Extra prescription medicine
  • Battery-operated radio with weather band
  • Car charger for your cell phone
  • Fire extinguisher
  • Basic hand tool kit (hammer, nails, flat head and Phillips head screwdrivers, pliers, hatchet or axe, knife, handsaw, duct tape, heavy-duty work gloves and 100 feet of rope or heavy cord)
  • One-week supply of non-perishable food (canned or packaged/dry foods, milk and beverages)
  • If you have a baby, maintain a one-week supply of baby food, formula and diapers
  • For pets, buy a supply of food, cat litter, etc.
  • Disposable plates and eating utensils
  • Paper towels, napkins, toilet paper, trash bags
  • One-week supply of water (for drinking purposes)... two quarts per person per day
  • Toiletries such as toothpaste, sunscreen, soap, and other personal hygiene items
  • Bleach (plain/no additives) to purify water with 8 drops per gallon of water
  • Water purification tablets (available in many pharmacies)
  • Disinfectant spray
  • Mosquito repellent and netting
  • Portable cooler (to keep ice)
  • A grill or Sterno stove (no gas grills indoors!)
  • Sleeping bags
  • Canvas or plastic tarp(s)
  • Whistle or air horn
  • If you're in an area prone to flooding, consider including life preservers and an inflatable raft
  • Copies of important documents
 
This is, or was, a Cyclone prone region. 50 years ago it got hammered annually with at least one, usually 2or 3, category 2 or 3, and occasionally cat.4 cyclones. The building codes still require cabling installed from the roof and anchored to the foundations. A minor one took our power out for 27hours last year so I'm stocked up for the 'survivalist' scenario.
(...ftw: a Cyclone is exactly the same thing as a Typhoon or Hurricane, they get different tags depending on where they originate.)

But the cyclones all but stopped around here about 30 years ago. Just wimpy things have been coming in, 'tropical storm' category for last few decades. It's how the climate cycle goes. They still get them further north in Qld, but not as many as in the 50s/60s. So sure, climate has, and is, changing.

... but...
Maybe they should be wondering why the Cyclones went away instead of using their return as a 'proof' of their contention that a tax and more funding of their 'Green Industry' will STOP it returning to it's normal cycle.

I know that 'Get Out' tactic is the best option where it's possible but how do you get 28 million people 'out' of a smallish group of islands?

The Phillipines have always been smack in the middle of Typhoon Alley, it hasn't moved there recently and the Typhoon track hasn't changed. They're used to them, they build, in the main, to cope with them. This was bigger than most, it hit them dead centre and no amount of preparation would have prevented the damage, much of which was caused by storm surge 'tsunamis'.

They got exceedingly unlucky and it galls me that the Climate Evangelists are using them as a 'show and tell'.
They, to me, are the equivalent of the Mullahs who pointed, jeered and proclaimed that Katrina and Sandy were Allah's Punishment.

So Warri, I guess if you deeply believe that they are right, either the Mullahs or the Climangelists, then you wouldn't see it the way I see it.
.. but then I'm used to that.

btw Phil, a small point that your
What is the biggest concern for them right now? Water, food, shelter and sanitation, in order of importance. At least the first two could be stocked-up to a point where there is enough for every family member for at least 4 days.
Click to expand...
advice overlooks is that they were left with little more of their homes than the foundations.

Their supplies and 'go bags' had, with their houses, 'gone with the wind'. Anything once edible isn't that way any longer when it's wet and contaminated and cooking up bacteria under a tropical sun.
They aren't silly, they know more about handling Typhoons than most, and they still ended up with nothing. I don't think any amount of forethought could have prevented their current circumstances.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Sid
Davey Jones said:
One thing for sure their weather forcasting sucks but then so does ours..Sandy Beach.
Is it ok to say globing warming again?
Click to expand...
Well of course its been blamed on global warming even though typhoons are a common experience, but this one is far worse than what they have experienced over the years. Whatever, I'd sure hate to be in their shoes. It was great to see that huge US plane landing with supplies.

 
Boo's Mom said:
Since Haiti's earthquake, it might hurt their cause to feel the United Nations will want to come running with help ...



If the UN is so full of loving and caring people they aren't going to let the threat of a little law suit interfer whith all that love and compassion.
Click to expand...
 
Davey Jones said:
One thing for sure their weather forcasting sucks but then so does ours..Sandy Beach.
Is it ok to say globing warming again?
Click to expand...

It might be OK to say it. In my opinion it would be more fitting to lay petty political BS aside and worry about how they can be helped NOW.
 
What a humbling experience. Natural disasters are just plain brutal. Can't predict when they'll hit. I'm not even going to get into Insurance stuff.
 
Diwundrin said:
btw Phil, a small point that your advice overlooks is that they were left with little more of their homes than the foundations.

Their supplies and 'go bags' had, with their houses, 'gone with the wind'. Anything once edible isn't that way any longer when it's wet and contaminated and cooking up bacteria under a tropical sun.
They aren't silly, they know more about handling Typhoons than most, and they still ended up with nothing. I don't think any amount of forethought could have prevented their current circumstances.
Click to expand...

If they were indeed wise to the ways of typhoons they wouldn't be living in ramshackle huts on the edge of the water. In fact, they wouldn't be living on such an isolated island in the middle of Typhoon Alley at all. They would be much better off on the "mainland".

The idea of a Go bag is that IT GOES WITH YOU wherever you are. You don't leave them sitting in a closet when the winds are knocking at your door. You have bottled and sealed water and rations that are not affected by climate conditions, i.e. MREs, canned goods.

No, no amount of prep could have prevented the disaster, but it WOULD have prevented their having to act like crazed animals in their search for food and water so soon after the hit. I'm sorry, but if you have stores selling big-screen TV's that means your population base can also afford to lay-in a few bottles of water and a couple cans of beans.

For me this is yet another lesson of what would happen here in times of disaster - bodies will be lying around, the government will be nowhere in sight and it will be every person for themselves. Their cries for aid are exactly what I would expect here, and that's why I'm prepared to get through at least a week on my own.
 
SifuPhil said:
If they were indeed wise to the ways of typhoons they wouldn't be living in ramshackle huts on the edge of the water. In fact, they wouldn't be living on such an isolated island in the middle of Typhoon Alley at all. They would be much better off on the "mainland".

The idea of a Go bag is that IT GOES WITH YOU wherever you are. You don't leave them sitting in a closet when the winds are knocking at your door. You have bottled and sealed water and rations that are not affected by climate conditions, i.e. MREs, canned goods.

No, no amount of prep could have prevented the disaster, but it WOULD have prevented their having to act like crazed animals in their search for food and water so soon after the hit. I'm sorry, but if you have stores selling big-screen TV's that means your population base can also afford to lay-in a few bottles of water and a couple cans of beans.

For me this is yet another lesson of what would happen here in times of disaster - bodies will be lying around, the government will be nowhere in sight and it will be every person for themselves. Their cries for aid are exactly what I would expect here, and that's why I'm prepared to get through at least a week on my own.
Click to expand...

But, Phil - where would they go when there's that much devastation?? They would be mobbed very soon trying to leave with food & supplies, I would think, and even if they got away, where to??
 
A gal who posts on Pet Forums lives in the Philippines. She just wrote a message to us that she lives in Luzon, and she is okay. She said her mother's house was damaged, and that area was the worst hit was where the mom lived, the area is Visayas. She said communications were down in Leyte and Sama.

She told us that the day after the typhoon hit, there were 200 dead bodies strewn over Tacolban City. Since they lacked body bags, the military used tarps and large plastics instead. Evacuation centers are packed and some villages have not been reached with any relief. Some were venturing to the city to seek help.

Besides praying for these folks, we can donate through the International Red Cross also...http://www.icrc.org/eng/donations/?o...pn=philippines
 
Phil! You're kidding right? The Phillipines doesn't have a 'mainland'. Their whole Country is that group of 'isolated' islands and 28 million people won't all fit on the highest one. Nor can an entire Country be evacuated every time a typhoon warning is issued.

The ramshackle huts weren't the only thing affected, it knocked down concrete buildings and left cargo ships halfway up hills. Not everyone can afford to live in a stormproof mansion you know, they're not '3rd World' but it ain't Manhattan either. They don't just sell big screen TVs, they make the parts for 'em. But their main income derives from food production. Ironic? The crops, and the processing plants are in the main kaput. But even though they must have stored food on some of the islands they don't have any way of getting it to where it's needed most. They don't have the planes and ships, and the roads when they get there are impassable.

Those in the worst hit areas ran out of arms to hang on to their 'go' bags, they were holding onto their kids. One man was demonstrating how he was left with nothing left but his toilet to hang on to and he had both arms around it. I don't think a go bag was a high priority just then. An entire village of 45 people crammed under a big heavy loaded dump truck because it was the only thing still standing and it was lifting off the ground at times. They all survived, one of the few villages that did. The wind speeds clocked up to, or close to, 300kph. That's twister stuff isn't it? Except it lasted a lot longer.
I'd be willing to bet that every single one of those homes, even the ramshackle ones, would have had supplies put by, as I said, they aren't silly.
They were simply blown away and outgunned by nature at it's nastiest.

Dunno about you but they impressed me that they came through it as well as they did. The rigged up clothes lines to dry what clothes they can find, and shelters built from the debris that they've constructed for themselves, and the utensils they've gathered from the mess to make at least a semblance of a 'home' under a sheet of tin propped up on a fridge, which is more than I'd expect most societies to accomplish after something like that. Most seem to just sit down and wail.

They've done their level best to help themselves and I admire that. That food is simply no longer available isn't just down to their bad management. That their water supplies are contaminated isn't either. I'd expect canned food would be picked up from wherever it landed but it wouldn't still be in cupboards and it wouldn't be enough.

btw, Tell me something, if you were the only one in the village smart enough to have strapped a weeks worth of food and water around you in your go bag could you sit there with it and let the neighbours and relatives kids go thirsty and hungry? Could you eat it front of them?

I've got a few 'survivalist' types rels and friends and they have it all figured out too, but it depends on the landscape you find yourself in as to how well you will fare with that. What is good planning in the aftermath of some disasters in some places is impossible to implement in others.
Robinson Crusoe didn't have several hundred thousand neighbours to compete with for food, if you see what I mean?
And why would you expect them to behave any differently, or better than other similar societies in other nations?

It's been close on a week for them now, so that 'go' bag is looking sadly depleted, what's the next move?
It's not the States, it doesn't have the resources to be trained or trucked in for relief. It doesn't have another few thousand miles of country to evacuate to either.
I'm sorry but I have to remember the clusterfuffle that New Orleans was, what if New Orleans had been a thousand miles from the 'mainland' of a foreign Country and not part of the US? How much worse would that have been? ... and where exactly were the residents going to find food after a week? Loot it? Surely not. Maybe they would even have stolen a survivalist's go bag. gasp.
 
What bothers me about this typhoon and other natural disasters world-wide is media exaggeration. It was NOT the worst in history according to the Phillipine Met Agency, typhoon Reming 7 years ago was stronger -- https://notalotofpeopleknowthat.wordpress.com/2013/11/10/typhoon-yolanda-the-strongest-since-2006/

Sure it was very bad but wild guesses of the death toll and reports of complete devastation (of the whole country) dont help anyone. The Phillipines President estimated the toll at 2000 -- 2500. http://www.wunderground.com/hurricane/deadlyworld.asp
 

You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top