· INTRODUCTION ·
December 16 2021, Super Typhoon Rai, locally known as Typhoon Odette, made landfall in the Philippines. The storm was unexpectedly powerful, undergoing what is called “rapid intensification” the day before making landfall, which is becoming characteristic of tropical storms occurring in our warming climate. With winds of up to 195 km/h and gusts of 260 km/h, the storm was comparable to a category five hurricane when it hit.
The storm first made landfall in Siargao, an island known as a world’s surf capital. The typhoon collapsed buildings and power lines, uprooted palm trees, and worse. Nearly half a million people were displaced from their homes and more than 400 people died. It is estimated that around 90 to 95% of the island structures (mostly homes) were damaged.
It's been months since super Typhoon Rai wiped out most of the island and unfortunately rehabilitation has been painfully slow.
Help from the Government and international organizations is not coming as fast as they need it and it is thanks to local organizations such as Lokal Lab that they are mobilizing different groups and gathering donations immediately.
