Typhoon Haiyan Relief Effort: Day's End

When we walked out the gates with our feet leading home I let out a sigh of relief. My shoulders shrugged forward, I inhaled, then looked up to see another relief team heading our direction. UNICEF had arrived to assist with evaluating the cleanliness of the water and to set up some wells...or something like that. My brain was pretty fried by this point. My mind was still buzzing from what I had just witnessed. We hadn't eaten since early that morning and it was getting late. I felt dehydrated and I just wanted to get back to the chapel. We took some obligatory photos with their team that didn't end up developing well enough to see anyone. As you can tell by Olsen's face he was pretty much done with talking to people. Chantel's smile looked like it was being held up by fishing line and scotch tape -- at least she was being polite. I obviously wanted nothing to do with this conversation as I'm smirking at what looks like a green bench sticking in the rubble. The UNICEF people were very nice though, and surprisingly perky.

The three of us chuckled as we walked away from them as we expressed our concurred willingness to exchange pleasantries which could really only have been expressed as zero. Another stop was made shortly after as we found more survivors in need of treatment. This was different though. I sat in an abandoned cabby next to some kids with a smile and began chatting with them. I could never be tired of talking with my people. Is that biased? Meh, I love them, and the Filipino children are hilarious and adorable. Goodness... Just look at them! Don't you want to hug them forever? I can't count how many times Chantel found new friends she wanted to hide in her luggage to bring back to America. Could you blame her?

Despite the dehydration, exhaustion, hunger, and ultimately the apocalyptic atmosphere-- a definite attitude of cheeriness and light-heartedness prevailed. As I became aware again of my surroundings I noticed the children laughing, the adults smiling, and you never would have known that they had just lost everything. I smiled as I realized this. How resilient of a people... 

I began to think of Trebas' question he asked me before I left. We both had just finished a teaching shift at the MTC and as we were walking away he asked "Mace, why would God allow the largest storm in this world's history hit the most humble and loving people? Why them?" I began to realize... they are the only people that could bear through it, the only people humble and selfless enough to survive it, the only people that could smile through the heartbreak. Could America survive such a tragedy? A calamity of this proportion? I am sad to say I don't believe so. As night began to fall on the city I was reminded that power would likely not be restored to the island for 3-6 months. Could our people survive that?

I also admired the fact that not once did I feel like our safety was compromised, rather, the people were receptive, inviting, and grateful. While we interacted with our new friends I was hard pressed to find a grim solemn face. I wondered if this was the true representation of humanity. I wonder if the world is more like this and less like us. Our obese homes, our lavish cars, our status promoting clothing... I reveled in the utter acceptance of anyone and everyone without inhibition and without reservation. There were no judgements, no assumptions here.

Night fell on the town and we returned to our chapel. We quickly satisfied the grumbles and cries of our stomachs with chocolate crackers and granola. Olsen asked for assistance setting up a tent outside
to sleep in. It sounded really good to sleep outside in the semi-cooler air with high hopes of a mild breeze. Walter, Olsen, and I got it ready and we moved in our gear. Willie and a few of the others found a place to lie down on displaced church pews and patches of grass. 

As we laid down, Chantel asked for a story. I smiled and began telling some story from my past (probably about the Philippines). It obviously wasn't too memorable seeing as Chantel had completely passed out within a few sentences. At least I know I have a super power strong as melatonin. I didn't last much longer as my mind began to wind down from trying to comprehend everything the last 18 hours had showed me. I don't remember falling asleep, but I sure do remember waking up! A storm had passed overhead and was pouring rain into our tent through our screen windows. I startled awake and grabbed the screen to zip up as a stream of water splashed on Chantel's face. She barely flinched. Olsen was on the other side reacting just as quickly. Walter was on his elbows unsure of what to do. As my eyes adjusted I saw the entire tent being bent over us. The wind was pounding our tent and in that half-dream half-awake state I legitimately thought our tent was going to get picked up with us in it and thrown through the air Wizard of Oz style. All of us were so exhausted though that with the water leak stopped, the threat of being carried away in the wind seemed unimportant compared to our bodies' desire to stop moving...or existing. I was out as soon as my head hit the pillow. 



 

Typhoon Haiyan Relief Effort: Trauma

It had been around ten days now since the storm had passed through. Ten days of survival. Ten days of hunger, thirst, and homelessness. Ten days of untreated injuries. Infection had made residence in their hosts for long enough for terrible effects to begin taking place. Some had fevers while others were incapacitated and bed ridden. We were there to help alleviate such injuries but despite all of our gear and collective training we were ill equipped to handle some of the traumas.

While wandering through the complex with my newly commissioned helper children I discovered a woman in such a dire state. All the others I came in contact with who needed treatment were able to at the very least limp with assistance to the EMT station but this woman was unable to walk entirely. The children grabbed my hand and led me to the home of this woman they described and I walked indoors. I found a middle-aged lady resting on a bamboo slatted bed with her foot raised. It was dim and dark inside her home especially after walking in from the bright outdoors. As she showed me her foot I saw two small holes in a patch of dead skin on the top and also a nickel sized hole in the bottom. Because of the outdoor temporary blindness I was experiencing I couldn't really see how bad it was.

After explaining to her that I was going to bring the EMTs I walked back outside and headed towards our station. The children followed me but were quickly distracted by Chantel who had started a game of red rover. I called Teejay and Arch to come with me who grabbed their stuff and followed me back. When we entered the dim-lit room her husband had come home and was waiting for us. We introduced ourselves and the EMTs started evaluating the injury. 

As my eyes adjusted while they cleaned the area I began to realize how bad the wound was. They turned their flashlights on the nickel sized wound to reveal a deep dark red exposure moving inwards with black skin decaying along the borders. The top holes were cut open somewhat more to reveal the top muscle of her foot which had been eaten away by maggots now infesting her flesh. She had stepped on a nail that had pierced her entire foot and this was the result of ten days neglect.

We were not well enough equipped for this. We were going to have to remove the decaying skin, clear out the maggots, disinfect the wound, and bandage it to prevent further contamination and spreading. Arch explained that if we had found her any later she possibly could have lost her foot completely and had the infection spread throughout her leg she could have died. This poor woman was in so much pain already and we hadn't even begun. We were going to have to conduct a surgery on this unsanitized bamboo bed with no anesthetics. We had nothing strong enough to alleviate the pain.

Some children re-congregated around us and I knew this was not going to be an event I would allow them to witness, not to mention the distraction they could pose. As I shooed them out of the house Arch and Teej explained the urgency of the situation and received permission to proceed. They asked her husband to hold her upper body and asked me to hold her leg in place while they worked. 

With razor sharp scissors they cut away the black decay from the bottom and filled it with anti-biotic powder. Our friend began crying out as the nerves had surely been effected in such a way that caused horrible pain. The EMTs then used Q-tips to swab the inner portion of her foot muscle collecting the maggots while cleaning the area. As they did this the woman began wailing, crying, and screaming out in utter misery. It required most my strength to hold her leg in place without allowing movement. She clung to her husband and writhed as the surgery continued.

My heart broke for this woman. Tears came to my eyes as I was filled with compassion and a desire for mercy for her. I wanted to take her pain away, to be done with this, and to heal her. Her screams penetrated my soul. I repeated in my mind that this was the only way, that though this was torture for her, that it would ultimately be for her welfare. We had saved her though pain was required.

The EMTs finally finished filling the wound with the anti-biotic powder and dressed it well. I stroked the mother's leg as she sobbed into her husbands shoulder. The husband thanked us and we stood to leave. Teej and Arch walked quickly back to the station. I haphazardly walked from the apartment. I was almost staggering. The surgery had drained me of so much physical, mental, and emotional energy that I was in a weak state. Couple this with little food and water and the sun peaking, I am surprised to say that I was able to function. As the scene that had just occurred replayed through my mind I couldn't help but wonder if there could have been a better way. This woman experienced such excruciating pain... I knew there wasn't, but it burdened my mind.

I walked around the corner and saw Chantel sitting there with some of the children who had helped me earlier. She was beaming and radiating light. I stopped and watched her for a moment interacting with the kids and I was immediately overcome with a feeling of rejuvenation and mental clarity. I realized again the importance of her role in keeping the children occupied. Surely if she hadn't been here the children would have come running into the house when they heard the screams. But more than that was the light she brought with her -- that inexplicable source of energy that seemed to revitalize those around her. She looked up to see me walking towards her and her smile dipped with eyebrows raised and an expression that said “Hey Mace! eh...help me out here.” I chuckled as I then saw how exhausted she had become from taking on the task of preoccupying a score of children. Her eyes reflected mine as we both felt our bodies aching for rest and nourishment. I squatted down and joked with the children and invited them to return to the station.

ZEDRU was finished packing up and were doing magic for some of the other onlookers. They looked tired too. We gathered together and walked out of the apartment complex to begin our long walk back to city hall.

Typhoon Haiyan Relief Effort: The Concrete Gym (Some Graphic Content)

We entered the large openings to see a large gymnasium filled with people. Massive concrete steps that made what should have been stadium-like seating were covered with blankets, chairs, and the belongings of the survivors. Children congregated together in groups running around and playing until they saw us. The other adults looked up at us curiously. ZEDRU immediately walked to the center and borrowed a table to set up their stations. The heavy backpacks filled with medicine and equipment was unloaded. Walter and Chantel sat next to Beth as a line instinctively began to form around them. They were tasked with recording people’s names, pulses, and blood pressure while Beth prescribed medicine based on Jabar’s and her own diagnosis. The rest of the crew spread out in teams to begin disinfecting and bandaging wounds.  

I once again took on the duty of finding the resistant and uncertain to come to the EMTs. I wandered around talking to the children and asking them where some of the hurt were. A younger girl, I’m guessing around 17, had a massive bandage on her leg and she was limping around. I walked over to her and asked how long it had been since she had dressed the wound. She responded with some straight sass and defiance. I began talking with her more informally trying to establish a more trusting relationship but she was very stubborn. She began to cause some commotion and a group of children and other young ones gathered around us to hear our conversation. The children began answering for her saying that her bandage had been on for a long time and that she was pregnant. I tried to convince her of the importance of redressing the wound to ensure that the infection was stayed but she was having none of it. Brylle, one of our crew, walked over and began helping her insistently move towards a place where we could treat the wound. Her expression changed from defiance to fear as she pulled back saying that it was going to hurt too much to remove. 

After a while we finally got her to sit down and dismiss the children. Olsen came over to remove the bandage and look at the injury. It was bad… very bad. It was one of the more gruesome injuries I’d seen in. I don’t know what the medical term for it is – a laceration? It was a large gaping open wound that was deep and very separated. The wound was infected. Olsen tenderly administered a cleansing agent and then broke open anti-biotic capsules to powder her injury (that white stuff). They re-wrapped the injury and she began crying and shouting in pain. Olsen administered quickly and she was taken care of. We instructed her to return to the municipal in a few days to redress the wound again. 

After about an hour or so of finding the injured and distributing medicine things began to die down. As the last few wounds were being cleaned and bandaged Chantel and Brylle started playing with the children. Brylle is incredible at magic and the children couldn’t get enough of it. Chantel played with the younger ones introducing American games such as “down by the banks.” Though Chantel could hardly communicate with the kids they absolutely loved her. With wide eyes they tried to decipher Chantel’s instructions and with big smiles tried to play her game. Eventually they caught on and the kids began laughing and getting really into it. Some of the parents came up to me and asked about Chantel. They were surprised to hear that she was not a teacher, nanny, or caretaker, rather, she was an accountant. It was pretty funny thinking about it.  

I asked them about their experience with the storm and they told an incredible story of the gym being flooded fifteen feet high. As the storm surge began enveloping the city everyone ran in from the streets to clamor to the top of the massive steps. They told of a dramatic and heartbreaking scene of people trying to swim into the gym but being carried away out of sight. The storm raged and it was quite some time before the water receded. With horror and sorrow they looked at the floor of the gym to see bodies lying there. The mothers shielded the eyes of the children as the remaining men and teenagers descended to carry out their lifeless friends and family members. 

What a contrasting image that was as I sat back for a moment and admired the happiness and calm that prevailed in this new community. I looked at the children’s smiles radiating and full of life. I noticed their mothers watching with soft smiles and relaxed faces – a grateful reprieve from the stress of survival. I couldn’t help but catch Chantel’s contagious vibrancy as with inexplicable vitality (because we should have been exhausted) she interacted with everyone with excitement, energy, and sincerity. It appeared to be charity. Complete acceptance, unconditional love, and full investment into strangers. It was charity. Chantel embodied that in these moments. I looked to my side to see Olsen and some of the other EMTS observing the same thing. It was vitalizing. It rejuvenated my desire to continue helping and I was filled once again with that unified vision we had to administer relief. 

We said our goodbyes to our new friends and moved back out into the streets. We still had a few hours left of daylight. We passed by a functioning well and our philippino companions headed straight for it. It was blazing hot outside and the cool water from the well was incredible. The temptation to drink the water was excruciating. That water was likely contaminated and dangerous to drink. Some of the Philippinos went at it regardless and even Olsen quenched his thirst. We were dehydrated and low on water. Was it worth the risk? I decided against it and Chantel wisely declined as well. That didn't stop either of us from showering in it though! A kind woman who owned the property the well was on came outside to watch the spectacle. When she saw Chantel soaking her hair she entered into her home and came back out with a pack of shampoo. Chantel couldn't believe her generosity. This woman lived in a half-collapsed home with so little, yet she was willing to share what she did have with a stranger. I'm reminded of the widow's mite. We were touched by her humble kindness. That experience still resonates very strongly with me. That is the way of the Philippino. I wish we were more that way.

We progressed further into the outskirts and came across what seemed to be a massive concrete/cement apartment complex that appeared to be still very much intact. We cautiously entered the complex and asked around if there were survivors in need. We took over one of the abandoned rooms and began to set up our stations once again. Mom Beth commissioned me once again to go out and search the large complex for survivors and to bring them in. I chased down a group of children and began there.

Typhoon Haiyan Relief Effort: The City's Heart

While walking through the flattened city I received a resurging feeling of surreality. It just didn’t look real. How could it be? There was so little left standing. Random crowds of people were standing by or digging through the wreckage. Occasional scooters or trikes would pass by. Rare helicopters would fly overhead but still no wind, no ambiance, just our footsteps and the lingering growl of passing engines. The best way to describe it is haunting. A ghostly landscape filled with relics of what once used to be. Trees frozen by the trauma, tombs of wood and cement, and mountainous debris was all that was discernible as we walked through the blazing sun.

I took care to cover all of my body from the sun. When in Rome do as the Romans do. Most Philippinos cover their arms, neck, and legs from the sun despite the high temperatures. I believe it lowers the risk of heat stroke, fatigue, or even just to keep your body temperature down. It’s not a science I’ve studied but hey, if a team of local EMTs are doing it then I figure it couldn’t hurt. I tried to convince Chantel to follow suit but she was pretty opposed to the idea. It didn’t help that Olsen was also protesting wearing long sleeves. Chantel reluctantly agreed to wear an orange fisherman’s hat and blue bandana with the persistence of some of the team and myself at no loss of style points. 

We were headed to the city center to hopefully meet with the mayor or other high ranking official to petition a truck. Unbeknownst to me, or whether I just failed to process the idea amidst the overwhelming absorption of events happening around me, ZEDRU was still banking on their relief goods arriving from Manila; the goods that would have otherwise delayed them. They were coordinating with the Cebu-team who were planning on taking the goods directly from Manila to Tacloban via boat. I was under the assumption we were searching for a truck for the sole use of distributing our relief goods. It didn’t end up mattering. The city’s mayor was unwilling to provide us with transportation insisting that the only way he would lend us one his trucks was if we would give his town the entirety of our supplies – which just was not going to happen. I’m getting ahead of myself. 

Once we had traveled a kilometer or two into the inner parts of the city we began to observe some intriguing things. Firstly we realized that the majority of people had migrated to the city’s center for refuge, supplies, medicine and food. We saw a lot of commerce taking place from selling incredibly high priced soda and vegetables to fifty peso haircuts. The barber and client were smiling as we walked by. It was bizarre but inspiring. The majority of others we walked passed seemed to be in good spirits and were happy to see us. 

I remember wandering past a police post set up with some basic building supplies and noticed a boat not twenty yards from it. We were quite a ways from the coast. 

I chuckled as I saw where some of the nicer vehicles ended up. One was hanging half-way into someone’s balcony. As we walked by one of the Philippinos said “Magaling siya mag-park” which means “He’s good at parking.” We started laughing as we continued to see random vehicles precariously placed by the storm. One car was jammed sideways between a tree with its rear wheels in the air. On a separate day Walter tried opening one of the doors with a guilty smile and started laughing when he realized it was locked. One of ZEDRU started laughing hard while pointing over at a half standing house. The roof and second story had been completely torn off leaving the majority of the rest of the house exposed. The windows were blown out and I’m pretty sure some of the walls were compromised pretty badly. Despite the poor condition of this house a man was using a key to lock the front door which would have stopped no one. We all started laughing as we continued on.  

Whoa! No no no… we can’t be laughing like this! How can we be making light of this situation?! How insensitive! Despite my mind protesting my enjoyment of the humor I couldn’t help but start laughing out loud at the idea that some guy set up a chair on the side of the road and wrote on a piece of wood that he was offering to cut hair for fifty pesos (About $1). Who in their right mind is worried about their hair being an appropriate length in the midst of all this? As I smiled Willie, one of the EMTs, pointed out the front of a used-to-be hardware shop offering wares to fix up any house. We all couldn’t help but laugh at the thick irony of it all. ZEDRU just kept cracking jokes about things we passed by.

 

A dead dog on the side of the road stiff with rigor mortis received the comment of being good to cook if we got too hungry. I remember smiling wryly and looking back at Olsen and Chantel to see their reactions and they were busting up as much as I was. I think half of it had to do with the shock value of it all. 

That’s just the way of the Philippino. You laugh to make grave or serious situations light. I remember on my mission I was in the hospital with my Tongan companion Lotima who had a fever of 102. Four other Elders were with us. I was worried sick about Lotima thinking that he was going to have to be transferred to Manila for treatment. The doctor came in and began asking Lotima questions which I mainly answered because he was pretty delusional. The doctor got frustrated with me and stepping towards Lotima and leaning over asked, “Sir, do you have any allergies?” Lotima who was battling consciousness  opened his eyes sat up and said with all seriousness, “Yea! All on my face!” The five of us started laughing so hard as the doctor frowned and walked out. For the next thirty or so minutes everyone joked about Lotima, the doctor, and just everything. I remember thinking then too that this was kind of weird but hey, it felt better to smile than to worry. Later on in our journey we were all very sober and reverent in moments that needed to be met with respect and solemnity. That is one lesson and talent I picked up from The Philippines -- the ability to discern when it is time to laugh and when it is time to be serious. It has been a positive and valuable lesson. 

We finally arrived at the City Municipal which was one of few remaining free-standing structures. The roof had been completely blown off leaving only a steel frame. Men were on the roof tying down tarps to protect the interior from likely rain showers that were to pass through. Chantel took out her global phone to see if she had service. There was still no reception. Chantel still needed to change her flight home seeing as her plane was to depart within the next couple days. If she didn’t make the change it would end up costing her an entire new ticket which would have been a costly expense. As we approached a global team called Rescue-Net was setting up inside the Municipal. Outside was a desk where they had a satellite phone. Chantel was uncertain about asking to use it so I approached the desk and signed a paper behind a few other names. We watched some of the survivors make hurried phone calls to relatives in other places. Many of them were in tears as the phone operator rather abrasively took the phone from them explaining that four minutes was too long of a call and that it was very expensive. Chantel sat down and the man asked for the number. She called the same friend who she had to apologetically inform about being unable to attend the wedding. Leslie didn’t answer the phone so Chantel left a splurged message in as hurried language as possible about all the information she may need to change her flight for her. With fingers crossed we moved on hoping that Leslie would be able to make the change. Chantel told me that she had done what she could and that she wasn’t going to worry about it. 

We met up with Mom Beth who was conversing with the City Mayor about getting a vehicle which, as mentioned before, was denied us. The other members of ZEDRU were wandering about helping Rescue-net get established. They were setting up a medical base and storage room in some of the back rooms where they were performing treatments to injured survivors. Olsen was speaking with an American who requested our assistance in what we came to know as “retrieval” – the finding, bagging, and burying of the dead. Upon later collaboration we all agreed to assist Rescue Net in their efforts. The Mayor informed us of another location where many survivors had taken refuge. A massive cement structure that was used as a small stadium for gym and basketball.  

We thanked him for the direction and stepped back out into the streets. As we walked through the city I wondered in awe at what it must have been like to be hiding in one of these demolished homes as the great monster roared overhead. I had to remind myself that it was likely that most of these homes were completely underwater at the climax of the event. How did anyone survive? What must it have been like to see the world ending in the torrents? One survivor told us of when he was dashing to his home as the rain sent walls of water between him and his destination. He said as he crawled into the driveway he looked across the street which was only maybe fifteen feet wide and saw nothing but the gray. His neighbor across the way was indiscernible though the wall of water sent from the clouds above. As the water level rose in his home he and some of his family evacuated moving back in towards the center of the city. Something prompted him to enter a random house that was two stories tall. He and those with him made their way through the abandoned home to the top floor when the storm surge hit. He said it rose up even into the second story as they huddled in the corner helpless. He said if he had stayed at his home he would have died. They all would have.  

I covered my eyes from the sun as I looked up towards a warehouse type building that had been painted by some of the survivors. “Help,” it said. The lightness of my heart was weighed down as I felt out of proximity the pain, fear, and mourning of this devastated city. What must it have been like to emerge from the wreckage to see the face of the world completely changed? All that was known was gone. The struggle and scavenging for food, water, and shelter. The storm had been endured but when would help arrive? Would it ever arrive? I envisioned the fear of abandonment of someone injured unable to protect and fend for one’s self. What about the children lost to their parents? Or the orphans seeking vainly for their guardians?  How incomprehensible. 

I was pulled back into the moment when I passed the gate to the gymnasium. I paused for a few seconds before entering.