typhoon haiyan understanding a tragedy. the storm from space

Typhoon Haiyan

Understanding a tragedy

The Storm from Space

Modern cities have strong construction

Facts about the Phillipines

• A country in the South Pacific, consists of 7,000 islands – 2,000 of these are inhabited (lived on by people)

• They have paved roads, hospitals, cell phones and offices

• 96 million people live there• 600,000 people have lost their homes• 10,000+ people have died.

A man tries to weight down his roof so it doesn’t blow away in the winds

Fishing is a huge part of the local culture and economy.

These boats are tied up on the docks to protect them.

The storm on radar - look for the outline of the country in pink. The wind intensity

ranges from blue (calm) to red (fierce)

Storm facts

• The storm produced a storm surge (a huge wave of water) that was 20 – 25 feet tall (twice the size of the surge caused by Hurricane Katrina)

• The storm was about 150 miles across • Winds within the storm reached 170 – 190

miles per hour• It dumped ______ inches of rain in ____ hours• http://www.nbcnews.com/science/typhoon-hai

yan-pushed-limit-bigger-storms-are-coming-2D11577486

They knew the storm was coming and police worked to evacuate people from unsafe areas.

Many people left their homes with nothing but the clothes they were wearing.

On a normal day people would walk this dock, sell fish, eat picnics…

There was damage and fear even in the cities that were far from the coast.

A closer view from the International Space Station

A truck drives through coconuts blown off the trees. Notice the boat that has been pushed up onto the road.

Some of the land is very flat, and nearly at sea level. Other areas are hilly and maybe safer.

This could be any kid at our school, but he is standing in front of his house in the Philippines

Two links interviewing people about recovery efforts. The third is storm facts and addresses questions of global warming’s impact on the

strength of this storm.

• http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/11/12/244588448/who-rates-typhoons-medical-challenges-monumental

• http://www.npr.org/2013/11/12/244688886/u-s-military-mobilizes-to-help-typhoon-stricken-philippines

• http://www.nbcnews.com/science/typhoon-haiyan-pushed-limit-bigger-storms-are-coming-2D11577486

Even during the storm, people tried to move to safer locations.

A mom and her three children, seeking shelter. It’s likely that all they have in the world is in those few bags.

Two people look for their stuff in a neighborhood of flattened houses.

Meanwhile, far away, Miss Phillippines (in the yellow dress) competes in the Miss World competition.

Is this what awaits her when she returns home?

Writing ideas:

• Think of a picture that seemed powerful to you or pulled at your heartstrings. Try to describe what it shows and what you think about when you look at it.

• Summarize what you know about this storm. Conclude with persuasive statements that would encourage others to find ways to help the citizens of the Phillippines.