Typhoon Goni brings catastrophic winds as it makes landfall in the Philippines, the strongest storm this year to hit the region.

We have learnt much from past typhoons including Super Typhoon Haiyan in 2013. This time, planning, prediction, and warnings were much more effective allowing many to evacuate to safer areas as the storm approached. This time, the COVID-19 pandemic presents an additional challenge. Typhoon Goni presents yet another learning experience – one that makes us stop and think about how we can better address multiple hazards during a pandemic. 

According to Associate Professor Adam Switzer, Principal Investigator at the Earth Observatory of Singapore, this is a time to “look at the interaction of how we can prepare people and communities that may be vulnerable to both COVID-19 and events like the cyclone that is ongoing in the Philippines.” 

As the climate system changes in Southeast Asia typhoons are likely to become more intense, it is through detailed examinations of typhoons such as this one that we can make sure we are prepared for the challenges that lie ahead.

(Source of thumbnail image: NASA Earth Observatory)