Typhoon Odette
[Report by Jasmine Nicole Panlican]
Date and location of the disaster
14 December 2021: At 11:00 PM, Severe Tropical Storm "RAI" entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility and was named "ODETTE". It has maximum sustained winds of 100 km/h, gustiness of up to 125 km/h, and a central pressure of 985 hPa, moving West Northwestward at 15 km/h.
16 December 2021: Odette quickly strengthened from a Category 1 to a Category 5 typhoon, making it difficult for residents to prepare for the storm’s arrival or evacuate. At 1:30 PM on Thursday, December 16, the typhoon made landfall on Siargao Island. It also made landfalls on Cagdianao, Dinagat Islands, Southern Leyte, Bohol, and Cebu on the same day.
17 December 2021: In just 24 hours, the typhoon’s speed increased by 85 mph. It made a landfall in the provinces of Surigao del Norte and Dinagat Islands in Mindanao, five provinces in Visayas, and the island of Palawan in Luzon.
Nature of the disaster
Typhoon Rai, locally known as Bagyong Odette, is the Philippine’s 15th storm of the year. It is also considered to be the most powerful storm of 2021, intensifying from a category 1 to category 5 typhoon with wind speeds at 157 miles per hour or more, making it difficult for residents to prepare for the storm’s arrival or evacuate. At those speeds, catastrophic damage occurs, resulting in power outages that can last months and large numbers of framed homes in ruins.
Natural or man-made?
Typhoon Odette is a natural disaster because it is an unexpected event caused by environmental factors. We have no control over when a typhoon will strike, which is why they are classified as natural disasters.
What type of hazard?
Typhoon Odette is a hydrometeorological hazard because it involves the interaction of atmosphere, bodies of water, and land, and which pose threats to lives and human property. It is also the result of of atmospheric, hydrological or oceanographic nature that may cause loss of life, injury or other health impacts, property damage, loss of livelihoods and services, social and economic disruption, or environmental damage.
Vulnerability and exposure level of the community
Siargao and Palawan are two of the most beautiful known islands in the Philippines but their beloved topography and pristine islands are what make them very vulnerable to powerful storm surges. Cebu is also exposed to occasional typhoons and severe flooding due to its undulating topography in combination with heavy precipitation.
DISASTER MITIGATION TECHNIQUES
A total of 230,496 families or 808,409 persons were pre-emptively evacuated ahead of the storm's arrival.
Residents were advised to stock up on food and water, charge their gadgets, and be prepared with flashlights, according to the PIO, as the typhoon may cause power outages.
Affected citizens sought shelter in schools, covered courts, gymnasia, and evacuation centers.
Various government agencies such as PAGASA, NDRRMC, and LGUs continuously monitored the condition of the typhoon and the situation of the affected regions.
When Typhoon Odette struck, the World Food Programme (WFP) rushed to assist the Philippine government with relief efforts, sending 113 trucks to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to deliver family food packs, hygiene kits, and other non-food relief items. WFP and the Department of Information, Communication, and Technology have also rolled out innovative mobile emergency telecommunications sets known as 'MOVE,' which have allowed emergency responders to communicate and coordinate quickly in the aftermath of the typhoon for the first time.
Food, financial, medicinal, material, and burial assistance were e provided to MIMAROPA, Region 6, Region 7, Region 8, Region 10, Region 11, CARAGA.
Several governmental agencies, Non-Governmental Organizations, private sectors, schools, and individuals initiated donation drives for the victims of the typhoon.
Damages, Injuries, and Casualties
A total of 7.4 million people were affected. According to reports, there were 403 casualties, 78 missing and 1,261 injured.
61,000 ha of agricultural land were damaged. Due to damage to agriculture and supply chain disruptions in typhoon-affected areas, food prices are rising. Markets are open, but affordability remains an issue.
Estimated cost of damage to infrastructure of Php 17,621,179,310.05 was incurred in MIMAROPA, Region 7, Region 8, Region 10, Region 12, CARAGA, BARMM.
A total of 1,295,209 damaged houses are reported in MIMAROPA, Region 6, Region 7, Region 8, Region 9, Region 10, Region 11, Region 12, CARAGA, BARMM
To know more about the preparedness measures for typhoon Odette, click the link below to view the situational reports of NDRRMC.
References:
Nutrition at risk after Typhoon-hit Filipino families, WFP warns - Philippines. (2022, January 7). ReliefWeb. https://reliefweb.int/report/philippines/nutrition-risk-after-typhoon-hit-filipino-families-wfp-warns
OECD (2018), Building Resilient Cities: An Assessment of Disaster Risk Management Policies in Southeast Asia, OECD Green Growth Studies, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/sites/9789264305397-9-en/index.html?itemId=/content/component/9789264305397-9-en
Super Typhoon Odette (Rai). (2022, January 14). Center for Disaster Philanthropy. https://disasterphilanthropy.org/disaster/super-typhoon-odette-rai/
Typhoon Rai (Odette). (2022). UNHCR Philippines. https://www.unhcr.org/ph/typhoon-rai-odette
WFP Philippines - Typhoon Odette - Situation Report #4 (6 January 2022) - Philippines. (2022, January 6). ReliefWeb. https://reliefweb.int/report/philippines/wfp-philippines-typhoon-odette-situation-report-4-6-january-2022