A WEAKENED SUPER TYPHOON HAIYAN HEADS FOR VIETNAM AS A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS EMERGES IN THE PHILIPPINES NOVEMBER 10-11, 2013 Walter Hays, Global Alliance for Disaster Reduction, Vienna, Virginia, USA

HAIYAN REACHED THE PHILIPPINES: FRIDAY, NOV. 8

AFTER LEAVING THE PHILIPPINES IN A STATE OF TOTAL DEVASTATION AND AN EMERGING HEALTH CARE CRISIS, A WEAKENED HAIYAN MOVED ON

ON TO VIETNAM AND CHINA: SAT.- MON., NOV 9-11

ON TO VIETNAM AND CHINA: MON.- TUE., NOV 11-12

VIETNAM: NEXT STOP FOR HAIYAN Haiyan exited into the South China Sea headed for Vietnam and China on Saturday, moving at 28 kph (17 mph) and packing winds of 280 kph (170 mph).

--- MEANWHILE IN THE USA In Washington, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel directed the military's Pacific Command to deploy ships and aircraft to support search-and-rescue operations in The Philippines and to airlift emergency supplies. On Sunday, a team of 90 Marines and sailors flew to The Philippines.

--- MEANWHILE IN THE USA In Washington, The President pledged $20 million in humanitarian assistance, including food, shelter material and hygiene kits.

--- MEANWHILE IN EUROPE In Europe, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso sent Philippine President Aquino a message saying "we stand ready to contribute with urgent relief and assistance if so required in this hour of need."

--- MEANWHILE IN THE UNITED NATIONS In New York, United Nations Secretary- General Ban Ki-moon said U.N. humanitarian agencies were working closely with the Philippine government to respond quickly with emergency assistance.

--- MEANWHILE IN CHINA Beijing, which is embroiled in a territorial dispute with Manila over islands in the South China Sea, said it would provide US$100,000 in cash and "humanitarian emergency relief assistance" to the Philippines.

AS A RESULT, HELP BEGINS TO ARRIVE IN THE PHILIPPINES; AS - - -

- - - A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS IS EMERGING IN THE PHILIPPINES

DIMENSIONS OF THE NEEDS The overall conditions are setting the stage for a public health nightmare. The Divine World Hospital, is officially closed for business due to heavy damage from the storm — but people still come for help.

DIMENSIONS OF THE NEEDS An estimated 9.5 million people, including 1.7 million children who lived in the devastated areas, were affected. Safe drinking water, food, and medicine are urgently needed to cope with dysentery. Over 630,000 people forced from their homes were still dependent upon evacuation centers.

HELP ON THE GROUND The Philippines Red Cross deployed teams to distribute hot meals, blankets and medical supplies, in addition to search and rescue teams. AmeriCares also had crews on the ground providing medicine and first aid to over 20,000 people.

HELP ON THE WAY World Vision said its shipment of 5,000 blankets and 3,000 tarps would reach Cebu by Monday so that survivors could build temporary shelters in the area where up to 90 percent of the structures were destroyed.

HELP ON THE WAY The U.N. World Food Program said they were flying 40 tons of “high energy” biscuits to the Philippines from Dubai.

BEFORE LANDFALL IN VIETNAM

VIETNAM HAD GOOD REASON TO PREPARE FOR HAIYAN Central Vietnam had recently been hit by two other typhoons -- Wutip and Nari, both category-one storms -- which flooded roads, damaged sea dykes and tore the roofs off hundreds of thousands of houses.

BAD NEWS: HAIYAN CHANGED COURSE JUST BEFORE LANDFALL Haiyan's changed path meant that "the disaster area would be enlarged from 9 provinces to 15 provinces.

BOATS ORDERED TO COME IN

THANH HOA: TYING DOWN BOATS ORDERED TO COME IN

EVACUATION 174,000 households (more than 600,000 people) were ordered to evacuate with enough food and necessities for three days. Some were allowed to return after Haiyan changed its path.

At least 10 people were killed over the weekend while making preparation to cope with the arrival of Haiyan

“STOCK UP” Residents of Hanoi were ordered to stock up on food and water before the storm hit, --- And, shelves were soon emptied.

SCHOOLS CLOSED All schools in the capital were ordered closed on Monday

EXTRA POLICE Extra police were dispatched to redirect traffic in potential flood-prone areas.

A REALISTIC COMPLAINT In the northern port city of Hai Phong, residents, facing the threat of heavy rain and flooding, voiced frustration with official preparations. "The city only warned us about the typhoon very late....; they were too slow in advising us to prepare,"

LANDFALL IN VIETNAM OCCURRED EARLY ON MONDAY, NOV. 11 Haiyan made landfall approximately 100 miles (160 km) east south-east of the capital Hanoi.

WINDFIELD AT LANDFALL Haiyan made landfall in the Quang Ninh Province with sustained winds of 75 mph (120 kph)

Quang Ninh, which shares the border with China’s Guangxi province, is home to the world natural heritage, Ha Long Bay, and Vietnam’s key coal production site.

Landfall was accompanied by widespread power outages and heavy rainfall, the latter a potential disaster agent for floods and landslides..

VIETNAM SPARED AS HAIYAN WEAKEN At 5 a.m. local time (2200 GMT), the typhoon was in mainland Quang Ninh with wind speeds of between 39 and 55 mph (65 and 92 kph). The typhoon is expected to weaken further to a tropical depression later on Monday as it enters China..

LANDFALL IN CHINA OCCURRED LATE ON MONDAY, NOV. 11 Haiyan made landfall in Guangxi with winds of 118 kph (72 mph)

TYPHOON HAIYAN ARRIVES

INITIAL IMPACTS 600 houses were damaged and 51 collapsed in the downpours and strong winds associated with the typhoon. 39,000 people were evacuated in Hainan.

A LOT OF RAIN

5 DEAD IN CHINA