On the 8th day of November, year 2013, the biggest and most devastating typhoon in recorded history battered the Philippines.
When Super Typhoon Yolanda, also known as Typhoon Haiyan finally left the country, it left a swathe of destruction, so huge and unimaginable, the national government has been reeling from the sheer gravity of the situation.
The typhoon’s fury affected more than 14 million people across 44 provinces, claiming the lives of over 8,000 people, and displacing millions more. Over 4 million people were displaced, with damage to housing and infrastructure across a vast area of the country. Typhoon Haiyan’s aftermath underscored the importance of disaster preparedness, response coordination, and ongoing support to foster resilience in the face of nature’s impact.
Typhoon Yolanda caused several damage to some of the Philippines biggest sources of income, destroying coconut farms all over the islands, leaving over a million coconut farmers without a means to support themselves as they’ve had to wait years for their farms to recover. The typhoon also greatly affected local fisheries, which is one of the Philippines most important sectors, employing 1.6 million people.
Many families lost everything during Typhoon Yolanda and were left struggling once the storm was over. The lack of options for transitional and permanent housing prolonged the displacement for many families, many of which are still trying to recover.
The vast use of ICT had a great impact in terms of informing others on what is happening during this calamity
A Facebook post where this user gives tips on helping out the victims of the super typhoon.
Even finding people who is affected by the storm is easy with the internet. With just a few clicks away, you'll know immediately what your loved ones are doing.
A news report revealed that Google launched the Yolanda People Finder after a disaster struck the country. It was developed by Google engineers following the massive earthquake in Haiti in January 2010. The tool was also used in New Zealand and Japan after they were hit by earthquakes in 2011.
At the time, having access to this technology was crucial for people who needed help. The Yolanda People Finder became a key part of Information and Communication Technology (ICT). Its role in ICT was to enable users to post messages and search for family or friends affected by the typhoon. If someone was concerned about a person, they could click on the “I’m looking for someone” button and type in the name. Additionally, if someone had information about a person or wanted to notify others that they were safe, they could click on the “I have information about someone” button and provide the name and details.
Aside from social media, Google offered help to the Filipino people by allowing them to use their web application called Google Person Finder. Google developed the Person Finder tool in response to the 2010 Haiti disaster. It was used in other disaster situations, including Typhoon Yolanda. However, Google reminds people that "all data entered (on the website) is available to the public and usable by anyone," adding that "Google does not review or verify the accuracy of the data." So, it's not 100 percent proof. Nonetheless, it's another alternative option that can easily be accessed online.