Typhoon Survivor: Ana Marie?s Story

After Typhoon Haiyan tore through the city of Tacloban, it continued its march of destruction and slammed into Roxas, a medium-sized city located on the northern tip of Panay, Philippines. The damage proved acute, but Roxas was spared the sea surge that wrought such havoc on Tacloban.

Nonetheless, the power of Haiyan was readily evident as the HFI team drove through the area. Homes destroyed, power lines down, debris as far as the eye could see. The greater Roxas area has received little in the way of assistance from anyone to date. There is a strong sense that they have been overlooked and that little help is coming their way.

The most affected are the poor, many of whom have lost the shanty they once called home. For those fortunate enough to remain housed in the evacuation centers, the pressure still grows every hour to find a solution for themselves and their families.

Ana Marie felt that pressure. Late in fleeing her home, by the time she arrived at the evacuation center, there was no space left for her and her children. Instead, she was offered space in the partially covered laundry room and given a tarp to help protect her family from the elements.

As she began to describe her experience and her current living conditions, Ana Marie?s eyes filled with tears and her head slumped low. Her stress and the incredible burden she carried were evident in her demeanor. After HFI team members prayed for and comforted her, they explained why they had come and the ways they planned to help.

The HFI team would secure locally available materials, enabling her to make simple repairs to her dwelling. Far better than an emergency tent, this shelter kit will protect against the elements and provide the opportunity to re-establish her home. Her responsibility will be to come to a pre-determined location, pick up the materials with family and friends and then immediately go to work making the necessary repairs.

Ana Maria was ecstatic and smiling from ear to ear, and her tears of grief transformed into tears of joy and hope.