Post Disaster Analysis: Assessment on Vegetation Damage by Typhoon “Odette” in Surigao City, Surigao Del Norte, Philippines

Abstract

With the country being known to experience several typhoons, post disasterrehabilitation programs formulated by local government primarily focus on resolving displacement situations with which over time is assumed to end once affected residents return and rebuild their homes. Struggles in the livelihood resources as a result of the typhoon comes in secondary which eventually contributes to the socio-economic crisis that most displaced households encounter, especially in upland communities who rely on forest-based resources such as coconut, banana and other fruit trees. This study therefore attempts to identify and delineate the effect of Typhoon Rai, locally known as “Odette”, to the agricultural and forest vegetation of selected areas in Surigao City, Surigao del Norte using remote sensing method and GIS software. In order to understand the changes in vegetation, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Difference in NDVI were computed using free QGIS software which was correlated with elevation, slope and land surface temperature. Results of the study show significant changes in vegetation after landfall of Typhoon Odette specifically for Barangay San Roque and Togbongon with 24.7% and 10.8% loss in vegetation area respectively. Relating vegetation damage to geomorphological properties, correlation graphs displayed greater impact of slope, wind speed and wind direction and finally elevation to the degree of vegetation damage. The study shall serve as baseline data in improving forest management strategies and post-disaster agricultural and forest restoration programs of local government especially in severely damaged areas in Surigao City, Surigao del Norte.