typhoon haiyan in the philippines

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Typhoon Haiyan
People often say that disaster brings people closer. I witnessed first-hand just how true this statement is during the recent disaster that struck so close to home. Before Typhoon Haiyan ravaged vast areas of the continent, I always thought that typhoons were not as bad as people made them out to be. I was in for a rude shock, but all that the disaster taught me was that people are stronger than they appear and they can do anything that they put their mind to. I also learned that Mother Nature is a fearsome foe and whenever she strikes, the best thing is to get out of her way.
I was a second-year law student in Manila and was busy studying for my end year exams. I still recall the date, November 8, 2013. The government and meteorological department issued warnings and people were instructed to evacuate. Unfortunately, not everyone had a place to go, and some did not get out in time. I consider myself very lucky especially because the typhoon claimed tens of thousands of lives and I could easily have been among them. Bodies were still being discovered in January of 2014. Once everything had settled almost everyone in the country signed up for volunteer work. Large parts of the country had been reduced to rubble.
Everyone banded together and helped with donations. Personally, I signed up with the Red Cross organization to help with rescue efforts and distribution of food and other supplies. People in the Philippines have always been a divided lot mostly because of politics and social standing.

However, this particular disaster brought us together and showed that human beings could rise above their differences if need be.