![\"Typhoon](\"https:\/\/www.canadahelps.org\/media\/Typhoon-Recovery-02-1024x505.jpg\")
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Imagine plotting the world’s largest disasters on individual graphs. \u00a0In most, but not all cases, there would be an initial “spike” of destruction immediately following the catastrophe. This spike\u00a0would represent the first few days of chaos, and as the damage gets surveyed, assessed and eventually treated, that spike would slowly slope downwards towards normalcy.<\/p>\n
Typhoon Haiyan, which wreaked havoc on the Philippines around\u00a0November 7 and 8, 2013 was different. \u00a0Those of us tracking the approaching typhoon on the other side of the world in the days\u00a0before landfall did not know what to expect. \u00a0To be honest, most of us were only really keeping one eye on the coming storm.<\/p>\n
Haiyan hit, and then came the numbers. Initial weather reports said this could be the strongest storm to ever make landfall. \u00a0As we jumped online, started calling local partners in the Philippines,\u00a0checked Twitter, and looked for local reports of damage, we were shocked.<\/p>\n
Nothing. There was absolute silence. \u00a0No information<\/b>.<\/p>\n
We waited. And waited. And slowly, reports started inching their way out of Eastern Samar and Leyte. \u00a0Little by little the story came together. This was a bad one. \u00a0Instead of a “spike” on the\u00a0destruction graph, this was a straight shot up after a brief flatline.<\/strong> The first few hours of silence was a result of all communication networks being completely destroyed.<\/p>\n When the scale of the disaster became clear, GlobalMedic responded immediately. \u00a0We deployed our specialized Rapid Response Team and mobilized our Philippines team.\u00a0Within\u00a0days we\u00a0were providing thousands of litres of clean drinking water daily in some of the worst hit areas. \u00a0Shortly after that, we flew a number of massive super shelters to act as\u00a0field\u00a0hospitals in place of\u00a0local medical centres that were damaged by Haiyan. \u00a0We also set up a Newfoundland-made 2576 sq ft inflatable field hospital that\u00a0saw\u00a0hundreds of patients daily. \u00a0We supplied our hospitals and\u00a0local health clinics with over $500,000 worth of essential medicines.<\/p>\n To ensure families stayed safe from the elements, we distributed over 350 transitional shelters.<\/p>\n The photos and reports from our teams on the ground in those early days were beyond belief. Mile after mile of dead bodies, ruined homes and ruined lives<\/b>.<\/p>\n Our teams did not focus on the dead or the destruction. They focused on the living and keeping families safe and healthy. \u00a0We did this by providing daily clean drinking water for thousands of\u00a0people through several water purification units and water tankers. We also distributed millions of water purification tablets and thousands of household water purification filters.<\/p>\n The disaster phase of the response to Typhoon Haiyan lasted for several months. \u00a0Now that this has wrapped up, GlobalMedic has transitioned its programming into providing permanent\u00a0homes for families. We have a very unique machine – the Impact 2001A – in the field. This machine turns dirt into blocks. \u00a0We are finishing work on the first round of homes, and we will continue\u00a0to build houses in the months to come.<\/p>\n We are also running a hygiene program as well as well rehabilitation.<\/span><\/p>\n Despite the world’s best efforts, the “spike” for this disaster is returning to normalcy much too slow. \u00a0More help is needed. Families need homes, access to permanent water solutions and proper\u00a0medical infrastructure. Canadians were generous in their support of Haiyan relief efforts, but there is a long way to go before people living in the hardest\u00a0hit areas can get back to their normal\u00a0lives. \u00a0GlobalMedic’s work is not over, nor is the time to support recovery efforts.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n![\"Typhoon](\"https:\/\/www.canadahelps.org\/media\/Typhoon-Recovery-01.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"Block](\"https:\/\/www.canadahelps.org\/media\/Block-Project-02.jpg\")
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