Super Typhoon Hits Philippines Winds 235mph 1000 Dead - Now Heading for Vietnam

Zaphod58
The USS George Washington, Cowpens, Antietem, and the oiler Yukon should have arrived off the coast. Four more V-22s were deployed from Japan, as well as the hospital ship Mercy being activated. She could be there in December if deployed. The USS Mustin, Lassen, Emory S Land, and USNS Bowditch, as well as several P-3 aircraft are there as well coordinating with the Philippine government.

edit on 11/14/2013 by Zaphod58 because: (no reason given)

Thanks for the update Zap.

I have talked with some friends from there and they say it's a complete disaster area. There are children that are parent-less and people in need of serious medical attention.

The US has to date moved 383,000 pounds of supplies into affected areas, and evacuated 3,000 people. The Washington is anchored near Leyte, and sailors have started moving supplies ashore near what was a US airbase in WWII. A Norwegian training vessel arrived in Tacloban today with 40 metric tons of rice, medical supplies, and 6,200 body bags. Japan is preparing to send up to 1,000 troops and ships to the area to assist.

The Washington and her escorts are loading MH-60 Seahawks so full of water containers that they can't even carry their usual crew complement, as well as taking diesel fuel ashore slung underneath. Some of the Washington aircraft were flown ashore to airports in the area so they can land more helicopters on the deck.

The US has promised $20 million in aid, the UK $16 million, Japan has donated $10 million, and the Vatican $4 million.

www.voanews.com...

reply to post by Zaphod58


The UK has upped the ante to £53m.

Apart from the US government, I think Americans have donated at least $33m.

I hear even Ikea donated $2.7m.

You gotta love those US warships

reply to post by reject


Heck yeah. The Washington probably produces as much fresh water in a day as Tacloban did before the storm.

Another large group of US troops are heading that way, and will be there early in the week. Two amphibious ships loaded with 900 more Marines will head from Okinawa. Half a dozen Asian countries have offered to send military units to assist, as well as supplies. More planes and ships will also be arriving from the US next week.

The Philippine government has said that having the US troops there as fast as they arrived (Marines were on the ground 6 hours after the storm and the first planes arrived within 24 hours), has been a "game changer". Looting has stopped, and it's been 2 days since the last incident with an aid convoy.

As aid is flown in, people wait in line to fly out on the planes as they return for more supplies.

The US estimates that 623,000 pounds of supplies have been lifted into the area, along with 1,200 aid workers, while 2,900 refugees have been flown out. A total of 1,000 Marines and sailors will be leaving Okinawa any time now, carrying engineering equipment, supplies, and medical aid.

Japan is sending 1,180 soldiers, in their largest overseas humanitarian deployment to date. The JDS Ise (DDH 182), a Hyuga class helicopter destroyer, and the JDS Osumi (LST 4001) will be deployed in the next few days carrying full complements of helicopters as well as the soldiers and supplies.

The HMS Daring, a Type 45 destroyer was expected to arrive yesterday. She carries a Lynx helicopter and can convert seawater into drinking water. The HMS Illustrious is leaving the Gulf and will be on scene on the 24th of November to relieve Daring. Illustrious carries 22 helicopters on board.

Zaphod58
The Philippine government has said that having the US troops there as fast as they arrived (Marines were on the ground 6 hours after the storm and the first planes arrived within 24 hours), has been a "game changer".

Thanks, Zaphod58, for your regular updates regarding international relief efforts. Was just wondering if you could cite your source as to US troops arriving 6 to 24 hours after the storm. The earliest account I found online as to their arrival was Nov. 10th, which would be 48 hours after the typhoon struck on the 8th:

Nearly 100 US Marines arrived in Manila on Sunday after making the 1,500 mile journey from the US air station in Japan aboard a pair of KC-130J Super Hercules cargo aircraft. The team will be initially deployed on search and rescue missions before making the transition to transportation and logistics. This is just the first wave of promised assistance by the US military that includes aircraft for search and rescue operations.

It just doesn't make sense that troops would arrive any sooner, especially if the nearest US base is in Japan (I think), which is a five-hour flight away, and that the US military would first have to assess (via monitoring the news coverage) the extent of the devastation before mounting an appropriate response.

Either way, we are in deep gratitude for America's speedy and overwhelming assistance with this disaster.

reply to post by MNLmarc


They were keeping a very close eye on the storm, so they'd know if they had to evac their own people and equipment, or if they'd be able to stay where they were. I believe the first troops to arrive were only there to start coordinating with the government, which would make them a headquarters element, with the first real field troops arriving 48 hours after, once an idea was had of what was needed where.

According to Lt. Col. Rodney Legowski, the first U.S. Marines arrived in the Philippines in response to the disaster within six hours, and began flying supplies to affected areas less than 18 hours after that. By Friday, there were 400 Marines in the country.

www.foxnews.com...

reply to post by Zaphod58

Thank you for citing the attribution. Unfortunately, I have little regard for Fox News, which has the reputation of biased (i.e., extreme right-wing) reporting, and has been ridiculed in several shows, among them Jon Stewart's "The Daily Show" and "Family Guy." It is further specious in that those claims don't appear to be backed up in our local news media, where the even the hint of an American presence in the Philippines would be promptly reported (with their respective spins on whether that presence is a welcome or unwelcome one).

reply to post by MNLmarc


It wasn't from Fox, it was from a military spokesperson. I'm well aware of the Fox News reputation. However, one or two Marines, such as the commander of the MEB could be considered "troops on the ground" and wouldn't be reported on. As could a headquarters element.

That quote though is on every news source you'll find, including ABC, the Staradvertiser in Honolulu, and every other paper/news location. The same story was bought by all of them, including Fox.

reply to post by Zaphod58


Outside of "brownie points" for the US military operating in a humanitarian aid, "helpful" way (opposite of breaking, killing, and destroying things) -- what do you see the long term goal of the USA and other nations helping the Philippines?

I personally don't think the US military helping is a strings-free selfless act... Though it is very welcomed when compared to a Philippine government who outright steals the taxpayer money and care about themselves more than the 30%+ in poverty.

reply to post by Philippines


The Philippines has been our friend and ally for a long time. It's helping an ally in need, as we'd do with any country that is our ally, or even on friendly terms with. Hell we even help not so friendly countries when they need it.

reply to post by Zaphod58

MNLmarc
reply to post by Zaphod58

 

Thank you for citing the attribution. Unfortunately, I have little regard for Fox News, which has the reputation of biased (i.e., extreme right-wing) reporting, and has been ridiculed in several shows, among them Jon Stewart's "The Daily Show" and "Family Guy." It is further specious in that those claims don't appear to be backed up in our local news media, where the even the hint of an American presence in the Philippines would be promptly reported (with their respective spins on whether that presence is a welcome or unwelcome one).

Just maybe the Washington Post is up to the Philippine standards of journalistic integrity then?

“Having the U.S. military here is a game-changer,” said Col. Miguel Okol, a spokesman for the Philippine air force. “For countries that we don’t have these kinds of relationships with, it can take a while to get help. But with the U.S., it’s immediate.”

With all due respect to the wonderful comedians behind those entertaining shows he cited as his authority, they poke fun at anything and everything.

Fox News isn't the joke and its agenda can't be questioned during coverage when the U.S. helps out in places like the Philippines, Japan, Haiti, and Indonesia (Islamic), etc. because it's not only the "right wing" helping out.

To call out its reporting as "specious" is misguided.

Philippines
reply to post by Zaphod58

 

Outside of "brownie points" for the US military operating in a humanitarian aid, "helpful" way (opposite of breaking, killing, and destroying things) -- what do you see the long term goal of the USA and other nations helping the Philippines?

I personally don't think the US military helping is a strings-free selfless act... Though it is very welcomed when compared to a Philippine government who outright steals the taxpayer money and care about themselves more than the 30%+ in poverty.

Is he implying that the US might be flexing its muscles to deter China, US' biggest trading partner, from occupying south china sea territories any further?

Why risk any of that? China is the future after all, right?

reply to post by Zaphod58


That makes sense, though it is very one sided... Even though the help is more than welcome from the USA, it is needed. The Philippine politicians care more about their family clans / political dynasties than their constituents.

I say very one sided because I don't think the Philippines offers any "foreign aid" to any other country, perhaps ever. Out of the list of countries offering help, China offered probably the least amount of money / aid.

it seems like recently the USA/Western forces are focusing more on humanitarian efforts to convey a positive image to condition peoples to welcome them.. there are probably many many many reasons

reply to post by Philippines


Oh, there are always benefits to it, such as with Indonesia. Relations with them weren't great, but after the tsunami aid, they improved greatly. Now we're fairly close allies. In this case though, we're starting from a position of friendship.

The Philippines has occasionally sent aid, but with their limited resources I'm not surprised they don't send much.

Philippines
reply to post by Zaphod58

 

Outside of "brownie points" for the US military operating in a humanitarian aid, "helpful" way (opposite of breaking, killing, and destroying things) -- what do you see the long term goal of the USA and other nations helping the Philippines?

I personally don't think the US military helping is a strings-free selfless act... Though it is very welcomed when compared to a Philippine government who outright steals the taxpayer money and care about themselves more than the 30%+ in poverty.

Is he implying that the US might be flexing its muscles to deter China, US' biggest trading partner, from occupying south china sea territories any further?

Why risk any of that? China is the future after all, right?

China is what I was alluring to. The USA is publicly trying to shift its focus from the MidEast to the Pacific region, like the Ring of Fire.

There seems to be flexing of muscles on both sides of the Pacific, with the average person as a pawn.

US will shift focus from Middle East to Asia Pacific, Barack Obama declares

Barack Obama has pledged to expand America's military in the Asia Pacific as a "top priority" as he declared the US intends to shift its focus from the Middle East.

US will shift focus from Middle East to Asia Pacific, Barack Obama declares

And... from the US Gov itself

The shift has long been forecast. After the fall of the Soviet Union, there were those in the U.S. government who urged a re-focusing of U.S. strategy toward the Pacific. China and India are two of the fastest-growing economies on Earth and the nations of Southeast Asia also grew behind the shield of U.S. presence in the region.

Panetta Describes U.S. Shift in Asia-Pacific

I wonder what the exit plan for the Mideast is to shift focus to the Pacific, or just keep all fronts active and everyone guessing

reply to post by Philippines


The shift to the Pacific has turned into a joke. There has been no shift, and there is no plan on how to do it, other than "We're going to do it".

reply to post by Zaphod58


I figured as much, but I suppose it makes great news on the side.. While maintaining a good reason for the USA and allies (or are there non-allies participating?) to conglomerate a force in the Philippine Sea.

Is he implying that the US might be flexing its muscles to deter China, US' biggest trading partner, from occupying south china sea territories any further?

Why risk any of that? China is the future after all, right?

FYI: China is also the Wal-Mart to the Philippines. Most goods come from china at knock-off prices, due to the truism of the price.

There are too many products from China to count that the Philippines rely upon in cities for life. However in the provinces (countryside) I think they should have enough to live. In the case of this typhoon, the people most affected (that I have heard about) are those living in densely populated areas like cities.

Those in the countryside in sparsely populated areas who have been relying on themselves for their livelihood are doing rather well.

reply to post by Philippines


Not really non allies, but countries we don't have close ties to are there.

HMS Daring arrived in the Philippines today. She's now docked at Cebu.

"I spoke to the commander of the helicopter who's been flying those missions and he said there's a band of about 10-15km (6-9 miles) all the way across where you can see the damage," he said.

"It's houses that have been destroyed, it's trees that are down."

www.bbc.co.uk...

She's going to go to some of the areas that haven't received aid yet, and is going to fly supplies in with her onboard helicopter. The UK is looking to see if they need to do more in the coming days, they have increased their total donation to $50M.


The death toll currently stands at 3,637, with 12,501 injured, and 1,186 missing. Some reports have 4 million homeless. The UN hopes to provide enough supplies to last 6 months in the coming weeks.