After flooding the southern Philippines, Typhoon Bopha rotated
back around and now threatens the northwest part of the country. This weather
bureau issued storm warnings, just as they had done in the previous encounter
with Bopha, which shows the competency of the government to take necessary precautions
to protect its people. Bopha again adjusted paths and now forecasters say it
will end up in the South China Sea, but heavy rains and strong winds will still
affect the Philippines. These forces could cause other disaster, most notably
landslides but also fallen trees. Emergency
personal and volunteers are spread thin, still recovering in the south and now
to deal with the threat of Bopha’s return. As the death toll tops 500 (600
missing), locals stand dazed and in shock, making rescue operations more
difficult. Trying to organize rescue teams has been made harder because local landmarks
have been destroyed. This would be a perfect use for GIS and GPS. You would
need an aerial photo with a decent resolution and then a GPs unit and you could
find what houses the locals are looking for. Also by using GIS you could accurately plan a
location for emergency centers. In the article, a woman recalls getting a
message from her mother that said she and her brother had made it a health
center. Unfortunately, it was in the path of the typhoons storm surge and the
center, as well as everyone inside, was swept away. With simple technology and
planning many lives could have been saved.
Source: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-202_162-57558048/typhoon-bopha-threatens-philippines-again/
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