Maps at work - Typhoon Haiyan and the Worldwide Mapping Effort

Because of the strongest typhoon in history that hit the Philippines, Haiyan, locally known as Yolanda has brought about a worldwide collective effort in assisting the battered areas of the country. A worldwide crowd-sourced initiative has been activated to map the extremely devastated areas of the country due to the storm; to which relief efforts and rescue missions have been dependent immensely while at ground zero. It all started as a single call which escalated to a series of exponential response of mapping advocates around the globe to create a highly detailed and accurate map of the storm-stricken areas in the Philippines. A map to which many of the rescue and relief operatives have been using to mobilize their mission and strike right at the heart to where the community needs it.

Super Typhoon Yolanda, the Philippines and the Mapping Advocates

MTSAT Image of Haiyan pre-landfall

Super Typhoon Haiyan, locally known as Yolanda is the strongest typhoon recorded in modern history. Packing up winds of 320km/h with maximum wind gusts of up to 380km/h and having a forward velocity of 29km/h. That is the maximum state of the typhoon before it had its first ever landfall at Guiuan, Samar at exactly 5:00 AM local time (21:00 UTC) at dawn of November 8, 2013, Friday. From then, it has directed a straight swath of havoc from Eastern to Central and Western Visayas of the Philippines. The tragedy then has called for a collective effort of people with various expertise to assist on the post-disaster missions. This includes the need for an accurate map so as to distinguish areas of concern so that rescuers, and field workers may be able to do their job in clearing and rescue operations over the distraught islands that were a direct hit of the record-breaking typhoon.

Jomalig Map-up and Kids Feeding Project 1st Wave is a Success

April 12-14, 2013

Jomalig Island is a remote island of Quezon province. Too remote that it already borders with the Pacific Ocean; requires three hours land travel from Manila and an additional six hours boat ride from Real, Quezon while facing the challenge of strong waves coming from the ocean. As such, this island has become a point of concern of James Betia of Journeying James for his feeding project and Schadow1 Expeditions' Mapping Project. This article is an account of the 1st wave of getting in to the island to reach out.

Call for Jomalig Island Outreach and Mapping Project

Jomalig at far right

Jomalig Island is a remote island at the eastern part of Luzon, frequently battered by waves and easterlies (habagat) especially during the typhoon season. This island has pristine white beaches however because it is located very far from the mainland, the inhabitants have problems to which its children needs your help.

Batulao Slipper Outreach a Success

December 26, 2012

Early dawn just right after Christmas, we have gone to to the streets and headed on to Mt. Batulao to give-away slippers (flipflops) for the youth and young mountain guides of this mountain at the heart of Nasugbu, Batangas that was donated by our generous subscribers, readers and friends.

Batulao is known with young hiking guides and children helping their parents bring up ingredients to their kubo stalls at different locations within the trail to give refreshment and food to mountaineers.

Outreach: Batulao Slippers for Christmas

Friends,

I am planning for a fund drive this Christmas and proceeds will go to the youth of Mt. Batulao 13 years old and below in supplying them with new slippers. Tentative date of  reaching out is on December 26. This is a self-initiated drive, however it would be great if more people would help me out so more kids can be supplied with slippers.