Field measurements and numerical simulations are used to assess the resons for different types of water-related structural damage observed in Tacloban and Eastern Samar. Coastal Tacloban saw heavy damage due to wind waves riding atop storm surge, while inland Tacloban experienced much lighter damage because wind waves were not present (though inundation by surge soiled structures). Eastern Samar experienced little wind-induced or pressure-induced setup, but breaking-wave-induced setup over the reef combined with wave runup and infragravity motions caused heavy damage along the coast.