http://www.cnn.com/2013/11/08/world/asia/philippines-typhoon-haiyan/?hpt=hp_t1

So, in 2012 the phillipines passed a bill to allow contraceptives and abortion. In 2013, they get slammed with the biggest typhoon in history.
Only 4 people are confirmed dead. 720,000 injured.

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I heard a news report yesterday saying the winds in this typhoon are
over 200 MPH.  There isn't really much that's going to be left standing
after that.  Someone said they could not push a door open from the
inside, and someone on the outside couldn't pull the door open, and
they were both trying at the same time.  Then the person on the
outside suddenly was not there anymore.

Industrial buildings in Guam are designed to face 130 - 160 MPH winds,
but I've never heard of 200 MPH specs (but maybe there are some).  

Reinforced concrete block walls with good foundations might be able
to hold up, but not wood frame stucco or sheet metal on steel frame
walls and roof.  The steel frames might be okay, but that's about it.
Wood frame buildings would be ripped to pieces, like what happens
with tornadoes -- which have concentrated high winds.  A typhoon is
the same as a hurricane (just a different part of the world), where
the high winds cover a vast area.  

This is more like a tornado that's 100 miles wide.  

Tall buildings covered with curtain walls would be blown wide open.  
Facing made of 3/4" solid slabs of granite will be stripped of their
surface and there would be chunks of granite flying through the air,
slamming into other buildings and cars and people -- whatever they
hit when they come down.  All the furniture inside offices and condos
would be blown out through openings in the exterior walls.  They
would be left with open steel frames and lots of debris everywhere,
if not fires too, after the winds abate.  

.

..

Any news?

..


Another thread on this:

http://www.cathinfo.com/catholic.php/Pray-for-Priests-and-Catholics-in-Philippines

True, but is this not in reparation?  Our Lord said the poor are blessed.  I don't think He referred to poverty in and of itself.  When Christ died, all of nature revolted.  Darkness at midday, an earthquake.  Surely there were victims of these events who had no idea of what had transpired on Calvary.  The Protestant notion that suffering is a sign of God's condemnation is wrong.  Re-read the posts with the Catholic view in mind.  That the poor are chosen victim souls.  Tragedy takes on an entirely different light.

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http://www.foxnews.com/world/slideshow/2013/11/09/philippines-typhoon-leaves-trail-destruction/?intcmp=related#slide=2

Philippines typhoon leaves trail of destruction

One of the most powerful storms on record devastated the central Philippines, as authorities fear it killed an estimated 10,000 people in one city alone.

Nov. 10, 2013: The devastation caused by Typhoon Haiyan, are seen in Tacloban city, Leyte province in central Philippines. Typhoon Haiyan, one of the most powerful storms on record, slammed into six central Philippine islands on Friday, leaving a wide swath of destruction and scores of people dead.

Source: AP

Nov. 10, 2013: Survivors walk through the rubble of damaged homes and a ship that was washed ashore in Tacloban city, Leyte province, central Philippines. The city remains littered with debris from damaged homes as many complain of shortages of food and water and no electricity since Typhoon Haiyan slammed into their province.

Source: AP


Philippine Red Cross says typhoon relief
efforts being hampered by looters

The Philippine National Red Cross says its search and rescue efforts in the wake of a deadly typhoon -- feared to have caused a “very high number of fatalities” -- is being hampered by looters, including some who attacked trucks of food and other relief supplies the agency was shipping from a port city.

Rescuers also faced blocked roads and damaged airports on Monday as they raced to deliver desperately needed tents, food and medicines to the typhoon-devastated eastern Philippines.

With other rampant looting being reported, President Benigno Aquino III said Sunday that he was considering declaring a state of emergency or martial law in the hard-hit city of Tacloban, as officials have proposed. The national disaster agency can recommend such a measure if the local government is unable to carry out its functions, Aquino said.

A state of emergency usually includes curfews, price and food supply controls, military or police checkpoints and increased security patrols.

Aquino flew around Leyte Island by helicopter on Sunday and landed in Tacloban to get a firsthand look at the disaster. He said the government's priority was to restore power and communications in isolated areas and deliver relief and medical assistance to victims.

Two days after Typhoon Haiyan hit the central Philippines, the death toll is feared to be rising into the thousands. As many as 10,000 people are believed dead in Tacloban, the Leyte provincial capital of 200,000 people.


[10K out of 200K = 5% of the population in Tacloban, Leyte is feared to be dead]


Regional police chief Elmer Soria said he was briefed by Leyte provincial Gov. Dominic Petilla late Saturday and was told that there may be 10,000  deaths in the province, mostly by drowning and from collapsed buildings. The governor's figure was based on reports from village officials in areas where the storm hit.

Reports also trickled in from elsewhere on the island, and from neighboring islands, indicating hundreds, if not thousands more deaths, though it will be days before the full extent of the storm's impact can be assessed. About 300 to 400 bodies have already been recovered.

A mass burial was planned Sunday in Palo town near Tacloban, which is located about 360 miles southeast of the capital of the Philippines, Manila. It was one of six islands slammed by the storm, which was one of the strongest on record to have hit the Philippines.

Haiyan hit the eastern seaboard of the Philippine archipelago on Friday and quickly barreled across its central islands before exiting into the South China Sea, packing winds of 147 miles per hour that gusted to 170 mph, and a storm surge that caused sea waters to rise 20 feet...





Nov. 9: Tacloban city, devastated by powerful Typhoon Haiyan, is seen in Leyte province, central Philippines. (AP)





Nov. 9: Bodies wrapped in blankets are placed inside a damaged chapel a day after powerful Typhoon Haiyan slammed Tacloban city, in Leyte province, central Philippines. (AP)


[That long, pointed beam coming out of the wall on the right seems
to be part of a building that fell through the window.  On the bottom
left the two feet of a body are seen protruding from the covering,
partially wrapped in plastic on the wooden pew.]



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Appeal from the Asia District:

Society of St Pius X-District of Asia
286 Upper Thomson Rd
Singapore 574402
Tel. +65 6459 0792 ; Fax. +65 6451 4020
Email: district@sspxasia.com ; www.sspxasia.com
 
 
Appeal for the Filipino Typhoon Yolanda victims
November 11, 2013
 
The Society of St Pius X of the District of Asia is making a world-wide appeal on behalf of the victims for the recent
super-typhoon ‘Yolanda’ that has just hit the Philippines last Nov. 7-9, 2013.
 
Described as the worst typhoon known in history, with winds reaching 330km per hour, it has had the same devastating
effects as the tsunami of 2004. The island of Leyte, in particular, and its capital city of Tacloban have been the worst hit.
The number of dead caused by this typhoon is estimated today at over 10,000, and is still growing by the hour. All the
houses of this city have been severely damaged or are gone.
 
The Society of St Pius X too has been directly affected: we have lost our Tacloban chapel and the missionary car,
stationed at the chapel; many of our faithful have lost their houses. We do not yet know if some of our faithful have died
in the disaster due to a complete breakdown in communications.
 
Please come to their help! This historical typhoon has come just weeks after a 7.2 earthquake hit the Philippines, with
its epicenter on the island of Bohol. One of our priest lost his parents’ house as a result of this quake. This appeal is
made on the feast of the great St Martin who did come to the rescue of a poor man in need.
 
You can help in many ways:
First by your prayers! That all those who have been affected may have the patience and fortitude to bear this heavy
cross. That the others may have great charity and liberality to come to their rescue.
Then by your donations. For these, you can either go through the various districts and chapels of the Society of St Pius X
world-wide (who will in turn pass it on to us), or send the funds directly to us in one of our various bank accounts.
 
NOTE: in whatever way you send funds, please mention clearly: “For the Typhoon Victims”
Also, if you send a cheque to one if these accounts, please also inform us by email, if possible.
 
 Australia : please make cheques to “The Society of St. Pius X” in AUD and send to:
The Asian Missions, c/o 20 Robin Crescent, WOY WOY, NSW 2256 , Australia.

USA : please make cheques payable to “SSPX Foreign Mission Trust – Asia” (tax deductible) in USD and send to:
Regina Coeli House, 11485 N. Farley Road, Platte City, MO 64079, USA.
 UK : please make cheques payable to “The Society of St. Pius X” in GBP and send to:
The Asian Missions, c/o 5 Fox Lane, Leicester LE1 1WT, U.K.
 France: please make cheques payable to “ACIM” (tax deductible) and send to:
Dr. Jean Pierre Dickès, 2 route d’Equilhen 62360 St Etienne au Mont
 All Other Countries : please make cheques payable to “SSPX” in any currency and send to either:
Priesterbruderschaft St.Pius X, Menzingen, 6313, Switzerland.
or: St Pius X Priory, 286 Upper Thomson Road, Singapore 574402 Tel.:[65] 6459 0792 Fax [65] 6451 4920
or write to us for bank details: Email: district@sspxasia.com
 
With the assurance of our prayers and the deep gratitude of the victims.
“Amen I say to you: as long as you did for one of these, the least of my brethren, you did it to Me.” (Mt 25:40)
 
Fr. Daniel Couture
District Superior

The same group that just evicted cloistered nuns is going to help the victims?  There is so much to be done after disaster but they have time to send out a letter two days later?  I wouldn't trust them with a cent.

Philippine Red Cross says typhoon relief
efforts being hampered by looters


Maybe the Asia District in spotless Singapore can find another
priest or two to expel now, or maybe some cloistered nuns to
evict, again.  That would be like "looting."


.

My wife is from Palompon, Leyte, and we still haven't heard from her family. All communication is down, so it could be quite a wait. Two of her brothers live in Cebu and will be taking a ship to Palompon soon. Please pray for everyone involved.