Although PAGASA warned about the possibility of a storm surge in areas along the path of Typhoon Yolanda, still many people were caught in it because according to some survivors, they did not fully understand what a storm surge is. No less than the mayor of Tacloban City admitted to this ignorance.
In case PAGASA is looking for a local translation for "storm surge" I would suggest "ipo-ipong dagat".
Many people are already familiar with what an ipo-ipo is and its destructive capacity. In effect, a storm surge is actually like an ipo-ipo of water whipped up by the winds of a typhoon. Thus, the term "ipo-ipong" dagat will not just be a term but also a description and people will have no more excuse to say that did nothing or prepared inadequately because they did not fully understand the warning.
Next time PAGASA issues a storm warning, I would also like them to end with the slogan:
"Sa panahon ng climate change, bawal ang tatanga tanga."
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