Typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda

So, as many of you may know, a "super-storm" has hit my country a couple of days ago that many know as "Typhoon Haiyan". Well, in the Philippines, we've been calling this "super-storm" Typhoon Yolanda. I always get confused whenever I see the news and thinking Typhoon Haiyan was a completely different typhoon. This typhoon was horrible, it resulted in the aftermath of around 10,000 estimated deaths in the province of Leyte alone. The storm didn't initially hit my area (Manila), but we experienced intense rainfall and wind action. Luckily, the storm passed our area on Saturday evening.

How does the devastation brought from Typhoon Haiyan make you feel?
Typhoon Yolanda was a bit of an experience for me, unlike Typhoon Ondoy where I experienced the intensity first hand, such as the intense flooding that hit my area in Manila, this typhoon created a lot of stress among my family even if the typhoon didn't necessarily hit us. But, I would remember the constant checkups on our relatives down in the province when the typhoon was hitting down the South of this strong archipelago. I saw my yaya crying because she had her father living in Leyte, one of the areas where the typhoon had it's peak. She told me that she couldn't contact them for weeks, because there was no signal. I honestly am saddened about my people, after all the natural disasters that we had upon our land, we still survive. I feel as if the Filipino people spirit never dies, as they say "The Filipino Spirit is waterproof", we will always survive despite the bumpy roads that come upon us.

How should people prepare for and respond to disasters like Typhoon Haiyan?
During the summer, I've been interning at the Senate of the Philippines under Senator Pia Cayetano. Sen. Pia gave me, and my friend Kevin an assignment that guides us to cooperate with a disaster organization that is striving to educate the Filipino people about preparing, and responding to incoming disasters. This organization is called Get Ready Pinas with a motto "Prepare. Inform. Act." Their aim is to provide information about preparing, responding, and surviving natural disasters/calamities, such as: Floods, Earthquakes, Volcanic Eruptions, etc. through the social media so that it has accessibility. However, while talking to this organization they believed that the Philippines should provide cheap survival kits, and establish evacuation centers for those who are vulnerable to calamities. I, on the other hand, believe that we should also educate those about preparing, and responding to such calamities.

Why do people live in vulnerable areas?
People live along the coastline due to the fishing industry, and because they can't afford to live in other areas.