Technology put to use vs disasters in Tacloban

A cargo ship barrels through a highly populated community in Tacloban City at the height of Supertyphoon “Yolanda” on Nov. 8, 2013. —LITO TECSON/CEBU DAILY NEWS

TACLOBAN CITY—In a city still recovering almost three years after a 300-kilometer per hour storm nearly flattened it, knowing what the weather would be is key to preparedness.

Now, it would be just a click away.

Subscribers need only send a text message to know if there’s another storm brewing.

The information would be important for a city still traumatized by Supertyphoon “Yolanda,” (international name: Haiyan), the world’s strongest storm to hit land which killed more than 2,000 people in this city alone.

Joan Mabaga, a resident, still shivers in fear when it rains, the nightmare of Yolanda returning to haunt her.

The city government, through its Management Information System Division (MISD), launched a computerized program for Mabaga and many others like her to stop relying on guesswork to decide whether to flee to safer ground or stay put.

The program, called Community Climate Guide and Response, had been launched on Aug. 26 and has since accepted 3,553 subscribers.

Subscribers simply have to register to the system by typing—REG<Space> FULL NAME<SPACE> COMPLETE NAME and send to 0920-9000911 or 0977-8080911.

“The purpose of the program is to save lives,” said Randy Calahi, head of the city government’s MISD.

Calahi said it is the brainchild of Mayor Cristina Romualdez.

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