Huh. "More than two million evacuated in China ahead of typhoon (hurricane)."

[Bluebear]

SHANGHAI, China, September 18, 2007 (ENS) - More than two million people in Shanghai, Fujian and Zhejiang provinces were evacuated today as super typhoon Wipha bore down upon Eastern China, in the largest mass evacuation since 1949, official state media said.

As the storm made landfall in Zhejiang tonight it was downgraded from a super to a severe typhoon. Wind speeds at its center diminished from 198 km per hour at 4:00 this afternoon to 180 km per hour at 8:00 tonight. Wen Jiabao today ordered nearby provinces and cities to step up preparations against Wipha and relocate people to safety.

More than 291,000 people in the city of Shanghai were evacuated by Tuesday evening, and all schools have been closed.

The approach of Typhoon Wipha has forced the cancellation of FIFA women's World Cup football matches scheduled for Wednesday. The China Meteorological Administration says Wipha may be the most destructive typhoon in a decade.

http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/sep2007/2007-09-18-05.asp

[cui bono]

1. Things that make you go hmmm...

[Bluebear]

2. It CAN be done. Whoda thunkit? nt

[Mythsaje]

3. Well, I'd hazard a guess there were very few people who said

"I think I'll just stay here." I doubt they had a choice.

That said, it's still telling that they could achieve that level of organization, implement it with efficiency, and save all those lives in the process.

[Disturbed]

4. Why is that still called a Typhoon instead of a hurricane?

Wonderin'...

[Bluebear]

5. That's the nomenclature in that part of the Pacific

[Mythsaje]

6. That's what they call 'em in the Pacific...

Or, at least, that's what I understand.

[Bluebear]

8. I don't know that a lot of Katrina folks said that, saje....

I remember one lady on TV saying "Evacuate? I don't have money to evacuate!"

[Mythsaje]

10. Oh, yes, of course... but it seems like there are those few who will stay behind

in any disaster... at least here in the U.S.

Not much of a problem in China, I'd imagine.

I'm sure the vast majority were glad to be evacuated ahead of the storm. But I also wonder how many would've chosen to remain behind had they the choice.

[malaise]

7. Good for China

I hope this system doesn't 'do' a Katrina next week because Georgie can't even find an exit from a room, let alone organize a hurricane evacuation or an exit strategy from Iraq.



http://www.wunderground.com/tropical/tracking/at200793_sat.html#a_topad

[Heidi]

9. "High winds, huh? Say, ain't it Talk Like A Pirate Day? Har-har-har."

This insightful analysis brought to you by our pResident. x(

[sandnsea]

11. 1.3 million evacuated from New Orleans

http://www.cnn.com/2005/WEATHER/08/28/hurricane.katrina/

Most did get out. I guess people forget.

[tritsofme]

12. I'm sure the government has a much easier time "relocating" people in a police

state.

Forgive me if I don't stand in awe of the Chinese.

[pampango]

13. Plus, this is the first time I have seen DU give much credibility to

"official (Chinese) state media." I guess if they say something that you want to be true, you suspend disbelief.