According to the November 14 update by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs  (8 pp.), the consequences of Hurricane Haiyan (Yolanda) in the Central Philippines include:

• Over 921,000 displaced people

• Based on initial data, 243,595 houses are damaged (131,106 are totally destroyed
  and 112,489 partially damaged).

• Damaged water systems are causing limited or no water supply in affected areas. 239 municipalities do not have electricity as of 13 November. Water systems in these areas may not be fully operational as they often rely on power to pump water.

• A total of 2.5 million people are in need of food assistance. As of 17:00 on 13 November, 9,804 family food packs for 49,020 people were distributed.

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Source: HLSWatch, Nov. 15th

At-risk groups amongst the displaced in evacuation centers include an estimated
112,000 children aged between 0 to 59 months and 70,000 pregnant and lactating
women who urgently require nutrition assistance.

Main roads are clogged with debris, cutting off remote areas and markets away from the population centres. There are increasing reports of fuel shortages.

Here is the homepage for the study and several related products.  There is a lot of interesting data in their report.

From the HS Newswire: Scientists: we should prepare for hell and high water. There are some interesting recommendations in the article about what research topics should be pursued. From the lead paragraph:

An international team of climate and social scientists say a new approach to climate preparedness is essential to help people adjust to coming changes. As climate-driven changes get more pronounced, people everywhere will have to adjust. In this week’s issue of the journal Science, an international group of researchers urge the development of science needed to manage climate risks and capitalize on unexpected opportunities.

Some additional details about their recommendations:

“The need to adapt and adjust is going to be global,” said Moss. “We need a flexible, integrated approach that merges theoretical and problem-oriented sciences around four general challenges.” The four challenges are:

• Understanding what information is needed to make decisions about adapting to climate change

• Identifying vulnerabilities in society, the economy and the environment

• Improving forecasts and climate models in ways that can address specific problems

• Providing technology, management, and policy options for adapting

As an example of how practical and basic research can work together, Moss described work in the United States involving water utilities, university scientists, and private firms to pilot use of climate models and water utility modeling to design resilient water systems.

There are so many dimensions to this tragic event, I hardly know where to start. Readers have been helpful and have provided some citations. Here are just a few interesting aspects

•  Philippines prepared for Typhoon Haiyan, but evacuation sites couldn’t withstand storm surges  
• Why the Philippines Was not Ready for Typhoon Haiyan.
• Why Arab Presidents are Pledging Millions to Philippines.
• Emergency Access Initiative – free access to Medical  Reference Resources  from NIH
• Natural disasters threaten Philippine growth –
  Every year, 20 typhoons hit the Philippines, a country also threatened by earthquakes and volcanos. These natural disasters have grave economic consequences
• Philippines Prepares for Future Disasters; No. 13
• Low Rate of Insurance Coverage in the Philippines
• Photos of the enormous destruction.
• Typhoon not entirely an “Act of God”
• Philippines is a victim of geography, poverty, and poor infrastructure

In the recent floods in CO, several of the rivers changed their course.  This article provides an interesting analysis of the use and maintenance of rivers in urban areas. See: Colorado flood recovery process is a lesson in who owns the river

In a note from Sean Scott, author of the Red Guide on Recovery, he describes a new tool he created. And it available at no cost to likely users.

When a home is destroyed by a disaster, it can be extremely difficult for a homeowner to remember the details of the fixtures, finishes, and features that existed inside their home.  For insurance claim purposes, an adjuster needs to know specific details of how the home was constructed, the type and quality of materials used, and the replacement costs in order to create an accurate estimate of replacement values.  Without this information, a homeowner may not get compensated for the like-kind and quality of the elements that the home once had. 

In an effort to help homeowners expedite the insurance claim process and maximize their recovery, a tool is now available called the Dwelling Inventory of Features and Fixtures. 

Two new reports out that provides reviews and analysis of two key actors re Hurricane Sandy:

(1) From FEMA: One Year Later: Examining the Ongoing Recovery from Hurricane Sandy Written testimony of FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate for a Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, Subcommittee on Emergency Management, Intergovernmental Relations, and the District of Columbia hearing. ( 7 pages)

(2) At the same hearing, see also testimony of HUD Sec. Shaun Donovan plus other federal officials.

(3) From the Red Cross:  Report is titled Superstorm Sandy; one-year update- October 2013. 

• See also Jos Martin’s blog for the perspective of one long-time  Red Cross volunteer: He voices his strong concerns about Red Cross efforts in Sandy and the recent investigations of them. See both Part 1 and Part 2:

While one cannot help but be impressed by the significant efforts and expenditures made by all three of the organizations above, I would like to see some independent analyses and efforts made to document the problems, issues, and needed changes to response and recovery mechanisms and operations by all of these key organization actors.