TYPHOON PRECAUTION

What is a typhoon?

Typhoon is the regional-specific term used to describe a strong tropical cyclone in the northwest Pacific Ocean, west of the dateline. The term hurricane is used to describe an equivalently strong tropical cyclone in the northeast and south Pacific, as well as the north Atlantic.

Several atmospheric factors, such as warm ocean water and moist mid-atmosphere, must meet in order for large amounts of heat energy to move northward in the tropics' higher latitudes, forming typhoons.

Tropical cyclones with maximum sustained surface winds of less than 39 mph are referred to as tropical depressions. Tropical storms occur when the wind speed exceeds 39 mph and if the wind speed reaches 74 mph the tropical storm is referred to as a typhoon.

The northwest Pacific basin has tropical cyclones occurring regularly all year round. Though there is no official typhoon season, the peak typhoon activity is in late August to early September and typhoons are least active in February and the first half of March.

Typhoons work as engines that obtain heat from the warm, humid air over the tropical ocean and release this heat, through condensation of water vapor, into water droplets causing severe thunderstorms.

The effects of typhoons include strong wind, large storm surges at landfall, tornadoes, and heavy rain. A tropical cyclone at sea can cause shipwrecks, lowers sea surface temperatures, and disrupt international shipping. In the last 200 years, tropical cyclones are blamed for almost 2 million deaths. The worse tropical cyclone to reach land was the 1970 Bhola cyclone, that killed between 300,000 to 500,000 lives. Once the cyclone is over, there is still the danger disease from standing water.

WHAT TO DO BEFORE TYPHOONS?

•Store an adequate supply of food and clean water.
•Prepare food that need not to be cooked.
•Keep flashlights, candles and battery-powered radios within easy reach.
•Always keep yourself updated with the latest weather report.

•Eaxamine your house and repair its unstable parts.
•Harvest crops that can be yielded already.
•Secure domesticated animals in a safe place.
•For fisher folks, place boats in a safe area.

•Should you need to evacuate, bring clothes, first aid kit, flashlights/candles, batter-powered radio, food etc.
•Evacuate if the local government officials told you to do so.

WHAT TO DO DURING TYPHOON?

•Stay inside the house
•Beware of dangerous animals such as snakes that may have entered your house.
•Watch out for live wires or outlets immersed in water.

•Report damage electrical cables and electric posts to the authorities.
•Do not let watter accumilate in tires, cans or pots to avoid creating a favorable condition for mosquito breeding.
•If safe drinking water is not available, boil water atleast 20 minutes. Place in a container with cover.

WHAT TO DO AFTER TYPHOON?

•If your house is destroyed, make sure that it is stable when you enter.
•Watch out for live wires or outlets immersed in water.

•Do not let water accumulate in tires, cans or pots to avoid creating a favorable condition for mosquito breeding.
•Report damage electrical cables and electrical posts to the authorities

REFERENCE

• http://www.wayph.com/what-to-do-before-during-and-after-typhoon/
• http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/521567/tips-to-keep-you-and-your-families-safe...
• http://kidlat.pagasa.dost.gov.ph/genmet/psws.html

MEMBERS:

• Stephen Caguicla
• Alec Merida
• Charles Olive
• Kyle Ibarra