Hockadaisies reflect on their reactions to the destruction left by Typhoon Haiyan
One of the strongest storms ever recorded in history killed 5,680 people, rendered 631,795 homeless, left 2.5 million in need of food and damaged $2.38 billion worth of infrastructure, according to The Washington Post. And these numbers continue to rise.
Typhoon Haiyan, known as Typhoon Yolanda in the Philippines, struck the Philippines on Nov. 8. An estimated total of 4.9 million people were affected in the Philippines, including one of Hockaday’s own, Isabella So ’12, currently a sophomore at John Hopkins University.
So received word of the coming Typhoon Haiyan via her CNN Updates mobile app and immediately grew concerned about her relatives in the Philippines. Fortunately, the Metropolitan Manila region where much of her family lives did not suffer much damage from the typhoon. Provinces Alkan, Capiz, Cebu, Iloilo and Palawan, however, did.
Even as an American citizen, So described being Filipino as a “huge part” of her personal identity. “I have always felt close to my heritage, and I constantly carry [the Philippines] with me,” she said.
In response to Typhoon Haiyan, the John Hopkins University Filipino Students Association, which So is a part of, hosted an on-campus Thanksgiving dinner on Nov. 23. All funds from the dinner were donated to the Philippines Red Cross. So highly encourages others to become involved in Typhoon Haiyan relief efforts.
“Everything counts,” she said.
“Food, clean water and clothing are important for the victims right now, but it’s easy to send something as small as a letter or a card—it still means a lot.”
Upon hearing of Typhoon Haiyan, senior Kendall Ernst tried to contact her friend Krishna Goswami from the Philippines, who she met at a month-long program at Cambridge University in England last summer.
“[Typhoon Haiyan] was one of the only times that I have actually known someone closely involved [in a disaster],” Ernst said. “It was kind of surreal to think that someone who I’d been studying with just months earlier might be in danger.”
Like So’s relatives, Goswami lives in Manila, so his area did not suffer much damage. Goswami’s school, the In ternational School of Manila, has been involved in collecting canned food, clothing, diapers and water for the victims.
“The relief process has been extremely difficult because so many of the roads have been damaged or destroyed,” Goswami said. “Even when aid is flown in to local airports, they often have trouble transporting supplies to people in need.”
It is clear that there is still more work to be done in the Philippines, but So is confident in its recovery.
“What happened in the Philippines is tragic,” So said, “but I’m so happy to see communities and nations come together to help a country back on its feet.”
– Faith Isbell
