Over a Year After Typhoon Haiyan, Survivors Rush to Evacuation Centers, Bracing for Impact of Typhoon Hagupit
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December 4, 2014
Senior Public Relations Manager
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Tacloban, PHILIPPINES (December 4, 2014) — Barely 13 months after Typhoon Haiyan devastated the eastern part of the Philippines, survivors’ recovery hopes are now threatened as they brace for another storm — Typhoon Hagupit (local name: Ruby). While weather forecasters are still uncertain just how severe the storm could be, a direct hit on the Philippines could undo months of progress for families still recovering from last year’s storm. Typhoon Haiyan killed more than 6,000 people, and 3,500 families are still living in tents and temporary shelters in Tacloban, the area hardest-hit by the typhoon.
Andrew Rosauer, World Vision’s emergency response director in the Philippines, mobilized the response team in Tacloban City on Thursday in case the storm’s impact is severe.
“We are concerned that Hagupit has the potential to undo so much progress, when people were well on the way to recovery,” said Rosauer. “We’ve seen survivors rebuild from Typhoon Haiyan in the last 13 months, but there is still a long way to go. We have the resources at hand to support families and communities around areas in Samar, Leyte, Ilo-ilo and Aklan where we have ongoing recovery work from Typhoon Haiyan last year.”
Earlier Thursday in Tacloban, crowds of people were seen heading to evacuation areas. One of them was 41-year-old Wilma, a mother of six, who brought all of her children.
“It has been a terrible year for us and we are just starting to rebuild,” she said.
Many of the survivors have learned lessons from Haiyan, choosing to evacuate well ahead of the anticipated storm. According to a local official in charge of one of the evacuation sites, they are expecting people to continue coming in overnight.
“People here are so scared. Since last night, people in the city have been ‘panic buying’ — trying to stock up on emergency food items and now most stores are empty,” said Cecil Laguardia, World Vision’s communications manager in Tacloban. “On the streets, people are hauling their meager belongings in pedicabs and pick-up trucks to evacuation centers, or relatives’ sturdy houses. At this point, most people in Tacloban have moved to evacuation centers.”
World Vision prepositioned relief kits ready for distribution to over 5,000 people with items like food, water, hygiene supplies, tarps, water purifiers, and solar lamps. Many families remain in tents following Typhoon Haiyan. The aid agency also produced and distributed thousands of emergency preparedness fliers to families, explaining evacuation procedures, what to take, locations of local emergency evacuation centers, and emergency contact information. World Vision is working in close coordination with the UN’s emergency response team and local authorities to respond to Typhoon Hagupit as well.
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World Vision staff are available on the ground for interviews. Please contact Lauren Fisher (+1.206.310.5476) or Brian Duss (+1.202.679.1620) to schedule.
To support World Vision’s emergency response efforts in the Philippines, please visit our website or call 1-888-562-4453 (1-888-56-CHILD).
About World Vision:
World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization conducting relief, development, and advocacy activities in its work with children, families, and their communities in nearly 100 countries to help them reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. World Vision serves all people regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, or gender. For more information, please visit www.WorldVision.org/media-center/ or on Twitter @WorldVisionUSA.
Highlights
- A new super storm threatens to undo progress as families in the Philippines are still rebuilding after last year’s Super Typhoon Haiyan disaster.
- World Vision has mobilized its response teams in case Typhoon Hagupit’s impact is severe.