Help typhoon victims in Luzon, Philippines

The Philippines was hit by storm Ondoy (international code name Ketsana) last Saturday. Metro Manila was hit hardest, Rocky and I luckily survived the rampage, but a lot of our neighbors did not, and so are thousands (or maybe millions) of people. Some are still trapped and a lot of them are either missing or dead.

These people need all the help they can get. Instead of us accepting your donations, you can donate directly to TXTPower.org as they are currently accepting donations via PayPal, Globe G-Cash or Smart Money.

Donate now via Paypal (via TXTPower.org). All donations coursed through TXTPower will be sent to the Philippine National Red Cross. You may also donate via SmartMoney (5577-5144-1866-7103) or GCash 0917-9751092. You may also donate directly to the Red Cross.



Barrio Siete is also running a donation drive.

Ondoy dumped more rains than Katrina

By Nikko Dizon
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 20:53:00 09/27/2009

MANILA, Philippines -- "Katrina" was no match to "Ondoy."

The 15th weather disturbance that hit the Philippines in 2009 dumped a total of 455 millimeters of rain in Quezon City alone in 24 hours, compared to the 250 millimeters of rain that Hurricane Katrina brought to New Orleans in Louisiana in the United States in 2005.

This was the report presented to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo by Dr. Prisco Nilo, the chief of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) at a briefing of the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) in Camp Aguinaldo on Sunday.

"We had more rains than Katrina," Ms Arroyo quipped.

Nilo said that in Tanay, Rizal, the total amount of rainfall last Saturday was 312 millimeters.

Nilo also told the President that cloud developments in the Pacific Ocean were being monitored by PAGASA.

"It has the potential to become a Low Pressure Area and might develop into another storm in the next few days," Nilo said.

The cloud developments may also take the path towards Luzon similar to "Ondoy."

Nilo said PAGASA had already issued warnings of possible flooding as early as September 24 and even raised storm signals the following day.

In a separate interview, he told the Philippine Daily Inquirer that it was also the responsibility of people to heed the warnings issued by government.

"Instead of just watching the soap operas on TV, they should also watch the news," Nilo said.

Nilo said that at present, PAGASA could detect through satellite the strength of a rain band but not the intensity of rain, or the amount of rainfall.

He said that in contrast, a Doppler radar "can more or less accurately estimate the intensity of a rainfall per hour as well as the wind strength of a storm or a typhoon."

Nilo also explained that last Saturday's rains caused flash floods in Metro Manila because the area was a "small basin" compared to the amount of rain that "Ondoy" dumped in the capital in a few hours.

"It doesn't matter whether the rain is strong, if the basin is large then it would take several hours [for the flooding to take place]," Nilo said.