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| Courtesy Capitol Weather Gang |
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| Typhoon Haiyan seen from space Courtesy http://media2.wptv.com |
The reality on the ground in the Visayas today is one of utter devastation. President Aquino has declared a state of calamity in order to speed up rescue efforts. They think that just in Tacloban on the island of Leyte, some 10,000 people might have been lost. In any country, a storm of this horrifying nature would be catastrophic. In a country made up of so many islands, with small fishing communities, remote rural towns, sketchy infrastructure and weak communications systems, the task of recovery will take many years.
We can only hope and pray that the world will respond in a way that reflects the magnitude of this disaster. The Philippines has asked for help and many countries will respond generously. The US has already moved ships and helicopters into the affected area and we know that the Swiss have sent in rescue teams. Our amazing Ambassador, Ivo Sieber, has been working night and day to get the Swiss teams on the ground and, with no great fanfare, they are now hard at work. Go Swiss!
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| Walking out of the wreckage Courtesy cnn.com |
The Filipinos have experienced every conceivable natural disaster in the past--earthquakes, typhoons, flooding, volcanic explosions, landslides and storm surges. They know how to get through seemingly impossible situations with great fortitude and pragmatism. It seems that our species is infinitely adaptable. However, we will need every last iota of evolutionary knowledge to cope with a future that will be dominated by climate change.
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| Ships washed ashore in Tacloban, Leyte Courtesy bbc.com |
With the sad experience of hurricanes like Sandy, Irene, Katrina, Andrew and many others, people in the US can totally understand the calamity suffered and sympathize with the poor people of the Visayas region. They also know that, sadly, there is nothing else to do but to pick up the pieces and start again.
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