Typhoon Haiyan is 2nd category 5 typhoon to hit the Philippines this year, and one of the strongest storms on record with wind speeds reaching 195 mph. The impact Haiyan has had on the Philippines is massive. The actual death toll is unknown as its current number is still rising and is expected to reach 10,000. The effects of this storm are devastating and many people are still not accounted for. Many roads are not navigable, and officials in the country are still trying to gather information on the extent of the damage caused by Typhoon Haiyan. The impact this storm will have to the Philippines’ economy is not as adverse as the devastation on the ground. Although aid is being given to the Philippines by 29 nations little aid is reaching victims, especially those in remote locations. The Typhoon would shave between 8 to 10 percent off the region's gross domestic product next year, and roughly 1-2 percent of the Philippines's overall growth. Much of the damage to the economy may be limited to the agricultural sectors of the areas hit hardest by the storm.
I was surprised at the differences in the tones of the different articles. The articles that cover this story were very different: one was very cut and dry and focused more on the current and future economic effects the storm will have, and the other focused on what effect this storm is having on the areas effected and the people currently. With climate change producing larger and more violent storms like Haiyan, Katrina, and Sandy I think it is important that we provide as much aid as needed. Without the current efforts of the nations involved in relief efforts a natural disaster like this affecting a country like the Philippines would be much more extreme. As this is an unpreventable natural disaster I think it is also important that we help better prepare areas before a storm like this makes land fall in the future. I think that developed countries should provide future aid and make large investments to build better more storm tolerant infrastructure in the Philippines.
--Michael Sarlo
