REFLECTIONS
THE SUPER STORM
Teresita Bacani-Oropilla, MD
I
t was billed as a super storm. One that
strong had not touched down on earth
in recent memory. It gathered strength
and momentum over the great Pacific Ocean,
meteorologists following its course as it barreled its way west, towards the Philippine
Islands and beyond. When it did touch down
on November 8, 2013 on Tacloban, capital of
Leyte province in the Philippines, the efforts made to prepare for it
were too puny to withstand its ferocity. Buildings, infrastructure,
16th century churches that had withstood past assaults; modern
arenas, palatial homes and small huts; carefully tended parks, piers
and man-made structures were literally lifted up, bashed around,
and scattered to the winds. The sea rose up and deposited big
ships inland while it made twiddle sticks of fishing boats. Then it
receded and swept anything in its path into the deep sea, including
a schoolhouse filled with children placed there for safety. Devastation completed, Haiyan (called Yolanda in Asia) then continued its
path and wrecked other populated islands before exiting into the
South China Sea, and ended as a tropical storm on the Vietnam
side of that sea.
The world, linked by satellites, heard of the destruction and
mobilized to help. Despite many responding with alacrity and
compassion, the initial work was slow. To get to the afflicted people,
areas had to be cleared to land planes and helicopters, places had
to be found to anchor boats, supply vehicles had to be flown in
to carry goods, and roads repaired and connected by temporary
bridges. Survivors had to desalinize seawater to drink, but first had
to have electricity for power and light. The need for machines to
remove debris and recover bodies was becoming more imperative
by the hour. A bereaved person could look on his beloved beneath
a collapsed roof, but not have access to him. The reachable dead
were lined up on the ground, many unclaimed. People were either
relieved or dismayed after a head count of those who were presumed
dead and those who survived. Grief was palpable and heartbreaking. As a word of caution, some initial supplies were hijacked and
10
LOUISVILLE MEDICINE
looted by desperate and lawless elements, thus the need for peace
officers nearby to ensure the safety of responders and victims alike.
Well-intentioned rescuers including medical personnel had to be
sure they had a support system with transportation, food, and accommodations lest they get stranded themselves, and end up being
statistics in a very unhealthy environment. Once the beneficent
helpers got organized however, they became very effective in meeting the immediate needs of the grateful victims.
Tragedies such as this bring out the best and sometimes the worst
in people. The great outpouring of help, spiritual and material,
from all over the world is gratifying. Donors gave regardless of
creed, political affiliations or material wealth. It was a true example
of humans helping humans. Instances of looting and hijacking of
food in the initial stages of the tragedy, however, also showed that
self-preservation and selfishness can rear their ugly heads, anytime
and anywhere.
After the initial goal of taking care of the immediate basics of
water, food, shelter, and establishing communication was accomplished , comes the question of what the future holds. How do you
reconstitute families? When do you stop hoping the lost one will
show \