Reaction Paper

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Earth Science

Submitted by:
Justin Oliver Hautea

Submitted to:
Sir Joy Delos Reyes
HABAGAT 2012
 Monsoon rains or habagat have become destructive in recent years. Rains brought by the

southwest monsoon locally known as habagat and enhanced by nearby storms have become

as destructive as the storms that enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR). In August

2012, the habagat was enhanced by a typhoon with international codename Haikui

(Rappler.com, 2013).

The Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards (2012) defined and recorded Habagat 2012

as:

The 2012 Metro Manila Flooding commonly known to locals as Habagat 2012

was an eight-day period of massive rain and thunderstorms in early August of 2012. The

storm was a strong movement of the southwest monsoon caused by the pull of Typhoon

Gener (international name, Saola) from August 1-3, 2012 (Sawada and Kuroishi, 2015). It

was also strengthened by Typhoon Haikui, although located hundreds of kilometers away

from the Philippines and was taking its toll on China.

According to Rappler (2013), Habagat 2012 affected 934,285 families, left 109 people

dead, and caused P 3 billion worth of damage, in just 3 days. Habagat 2012s total effect/damage

is comparable to storms that pass through the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).

Hundreds and thousands of families were affected by these heavy rains. This natural calamity

also shows the vulnerability of the Philippines to devastating storms, heavy rains, and winds.
 According to NASAs Earth Observatory (n.d), as global temperature increases, the

number of intense storms also increases. This is because warmer temperature could increase the

amount of water vapor in the atmosphere, thus fueling storms. Habagat 2012 was intensified

because of a nearby typhoon. Global warming could also take blame as to why southwest

monsoons have been bringing heavier rains.

As a developing nation, our country lacks the money and preparation to prepare, respond,

and recover from natural disasters. Wealthy and technologically advanced countries like Japan

and Taiwan also experience heavy rains and powerful storms, yet they have minimal casualties

and damage to infrastructure and other buildings. Due to poor infrastructure and drainage

systems, the damage caused by the heavy rains were intensified. The heavy rains also caused the

water levels of the Marikina River to rise. Due to poor drainage systems, the flood could not be

easily drained.

Hundreds died because of the heavy rain with 14 injured and 4 missing. Natural disasters

are dangerous, and sometimes unexpected. Luzon and Visayas are especially at risk because

typhoons usually pass through them.

Rains, storms, and typhoons each year are getting heavier, and more powerful and

devastating. If we do not take action right now, things might go worse. The government should

invest and fund more money in infrastructure and disaster relief and preparedness programs.

Money is important for a country, especially at times of crises, disasters, etc.

 Habagat 2012 was very devastating and almost as powerful as typhoons. We are very

fortunate that typhoons dont usually pass through Mindanao. Most of Mindanao doesnt

experience heavy rains and floodings, unlike Luzon. The mountains that make up the valley that

surrounds Koronadal also shields us from storms.

We should support each other as human beings, especially during times of calamities.
 BAGYONG YOLANDA

On 8 November 2013, Typhoon Yolanda, international code name Haiyan, made landfall

in the central Philippine islands region. The 600 km-diameter typhoon Yolanda crossed the

Philippine archipelago, bringing widespread devastation in its path (Nationwide Operational

Assessment of Hazards, 2013). Typhoon Haiyan locally known as Typhoon Yolanda - was one

of the most powerful storms to have made landfall with maximum sustained winds reaching 315

kph (170 knots) with gusts up to 379 kph (205 knots) just before landfall. It was equivalent to a

Category 5 typhoon on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale. Super Typhoon Yolanda is the

deadliest typhoon ever to hit the Philippines in recent history leaving 6,300 dead, 1,061 missing

and 28,689 injured (Lagmay, 2014).

This devastating natural calamity has reached the global news headlines. It was one of

the most devastating and powerful typhoon ever recorded in history. It wreaked havoc especially

in the Visayas region. Tacloban was the hardest hit city with 2,646 dead and 701 missing due to

storm surges, strong winds, and heavy rainfall (NDRRMC, 2014). Tacloban residents were used

to typhoons, but according to some interviews, they were reportedly caught by surprise by the

deluge coming from the sea (Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards, 2013).

Thanks to modern technology, cities, municipalities, and barangays were able to prepare.

The small municipality of San Francisco in the province of Cebu had zero casualties due to the

prompt actions of its local leaders and community members (Nationwide Operational

Assessment of Hazards, 2013).

 The Philippines is one of the many countries affected by global warming. According to

Earth Observatory (n.d), as temperature increases, the number of storms decrease, but the

number of strong or intense storms increase. This is because the warm temperature increases the

water vapor in the atmosphere, fueling storms.

One of the many reasons that led to so many death was the peoples underestimation of

the storm. The residents of Tacloban City were used to typhoons and storms. According to

interviews they were actually surprised (Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards, 2013).

Poor or well-built, infrastructure also led to many deaths and damage. The storm surges

were so powerful; they were able to destroy concrete structures. The powerful storm surges also

caused oil spill from a National Power Corporation (Napocor) barge. Around 200,000 liters of

bunker fuel were spilled at the shoreline of Barangay Botongon, Estancia, according to the

Philippine Coast Guard (Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards, 2013).

Despite the heavy losses and destruction, we aided ourselves and by other countries. We

received help from the United States of America, Japan, Peoples Republic of China, and other

countries. Although recovery was slow, Tacloban and the other cities and municipalities that

were devastated by Yolanda are back in business. Many people still carry the pain of losing

someone.
 We are extremely lucky that we have been spared from the powerful typhoon. After the

storm passed, all of us immediately helped in the recovery of the cities devastated by the super

typhoon. We, Filipinos, helped each other in times of need.

Since that incident, we have learned our lesson and mistakes. We will now be able to

prepare for more powerful storms to come.

 BIBLIOGRAPHY

BY THE NUMBERS: Ondoy, Habagat 2012, Habagat 2013. (2013, September 26).
Retrieved from Rappler.com: http://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/39948-by-
the-numbers-ondoy-habagat-2012-2013
Habagat (2012) Flood in Marikina City, Metro Manila. (2012, August 7). Retrieved
from http://blog.noah.dost.gov.ph:
http://blog.noah.dost.gov.ph/2012/08/07/habagat-2012-flood-marikina-city/
NASA. (n.d.). The Impact of Climate Change on Natural Disasters. Retrieved from
Earth Observatory:
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/RisingCost/rising_cost5.php
Yolanda (2013) Storm Surges in Tacloban City, Leyte. (2013, November 8). Retrieved
from National Operational Assessment of Hazards:
http://blog.noah.dost.gov.ph/2013/11/08/yolanda-storm-surge-tacloban-city/
Lagmay, A. (2014). Devastating Storm Surges of Typhoon Haiyan. International
Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction. 10/2014; 11. DOI:10.1016/j.ijdrr.2014.10.006
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212420914000922
NDRRMC. (2013). NDRRMC, Sitrep no. 107 effects of typhoon yolanda (haiyan). National Disaster and
Risk Reduction and Management Council. Online.