Carried by Water

Super Typhoon Haiyan seared the meaning of “storm surge” into Filipino minds, but in 2013, authorities were criticized for using this term instead of “tsunami”, which was more familiar at the time. We hear from disaster scientist and Project NOAH director Mahar Lagmay on what went into the public warnings for the storm surge. Survivors Mario Peñaranda and Algina Lacaba recount their firsthand experiences of the surge in Tacloban Ci...

One response to Super Typhoon Haiyan has focused on building physical infrastructure. How has this approach reshaped people’s relation to the open sea and coastal ecosystems? We hear from experts and a grassroots group calling for a change to this dominant paradigm.

Guests

Dakila Kim Yee, University of the Philippines- Tacloban

Ladylyn Lim Mangada, University of the Philippines- Tacloban

Jonathan Anticamara, University of the Phili...

Carried by Water explores stories revolving around water as a force of nature, a resource, and a pillar of well-being. In our first season, we examine the lessons learned and lived legacies from Super Typhoon Haiyan/ Yolanda, a historic hydrometeorological disaster which hit the Philippines in 2013, and we shed light on narratives about the complicated and still ongoing process of recovery.

Carried by Water is created and hosted b...

This episode revolves around resettlement. In the aftermath of Yolanda, local officials instituted a ‘No Build Zone’ policy for residential structures along the coast and made a decision to relocate survivors to a distant inland site called Tacloban North. We hear lived experiences and expert views on how this focus on retreat from physical hazards of the sea neglected social and economic realities, particularly for fisherfolk who ...

As images of Haiyan’s destruction flooded the media, an outpouring of humanitarian aid and volunteer responders from around the world descended into the affected regions to help. This episode is about the legacies of the monumental humanitarian effort that mobilized in the wake of Haiyan’s devastation. We’ll learn about NGO contributions to immediate relief and sustained efforts toward permanent housing. We’ll also hear about chall...

A decade has passed since Super Typhoon Haiyan's devastation. The mass media spotlight has long shifted to other disasters. In a region regularly battered by storms, what is the importance of talking about the lessons from one particular event? This episode, we’ll hear different voices discussing the role of preserving the stories of Yolanda to foster a culture of preparedness for present and future generations. We’ll also learn ab...

During our field work in the Philippines, we saw and heard one word wherever we looked: Resilience. The term proved to be both aspirational and controversial, depending on who we asked. To wrap up this season, we present a montage of our interviewees defining resilience both in the context of their recovery from typhoon Yolanda and in their lives today.

Carried by Water is created and hosted by Mario Soriano.

Copyright 2023 Mario ...

How does one's experience of flooding reshape their ideas of home, safety and community? We hear from homeowners Patricia and Omar as they recount their story of Hurricane Ida and their subsequent decision to sell their home to Blue Acres, New Jersey's nationally renowned, state-run program for voluntary buyouts of flood-prone properties. We also talk with Blue Acres program manager Courtney Wald-Wittkop and climate adaptation expe...

Who manages “managed retreat”? In this episode, we examine the individual, institutional and societal dimensions of decision-making, as well as the household and community-level outcomes of relocation. We hear from Monique Coleman, who organized her neighbors to collectively advocate for buyouts after a series of floods that culminated with Superstorm Sandy, and from Tom Flynn, the flood manager overseeing the restoration of Moniqu...

What do scientists make of retreat? We hear from researchers Lisa Auermuller and Ken Able of the Rutgers University Marine Field Station, an institution at the literal edge of coastal erosion, sea level rise and sunny day flooding. We discuss the research station’s history as a former Coast Guard facility and consider its vital long-term monitoring efforts, which serve as a bellwether for understanding climate change impacts. The e...

Coastal wetlands are crucial ecosystems. They sequester significant amounts of carbon and provide a buffer against storms and erosion. Salt marshes, in particular, are known for their ability to retreat inland in response to rising sea levels. And yet, the presence of human infrastructure blocking their paths and the accelerating rate of change put this natural adaptation into question, posing the threat of marshes drowning and dec...

Just as we did last season, we wrap up Season 2 with a montage of our interviewees’ perspectives on resilience. The term continues to prove to be a complicated word, eliciting responses that range from simply utilitarian to aspirational. 

Carried by Water is created and hosted by Mario Soriano. It's a production of Blue Lab at Princeton University. 

Copyright 2025 Mario Soriano and Blue Lab (bluelabmedia.org). All rights reserved.

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