I was reflecting on my experience in the Philippines as a future planner and was thinking about how to rebuild a city after a natural disaster such as a tsunami or a typhoon. In this case, Typhoon Yolanda hit the Philippines in November 2013, every top newsroom were reporting on the disaster. After a month, total silence, no media covering the situation but I had a friend that went in December and he informed me that the situation is still very bad.
Landing there in January, I met people that wanted to make a difference to rebuild Tacloban. Honestly, I didn't have the mental strength to stay long-term but I could offer my knowledge from my planning and engineering background. Many meetings were planned and attended but I felt that it was too early to talk about rebuilding. The survivors were suffering emotionally and helping them emotionally was more important than building a city back from the ground without any planning. I have witness the power of healing on the survivors and there is nothing like it.
Before offering a solution, an assessment of the current status of the disaster must be done but because time is at the essence, the focus was far from it. The focus was to rebuild as soon as possible which is understandable because the survivors need a place to stay.
I saw how the temporary shelters were made - a very simple bunkhouse in rows with a door and two windows (one in the front and one in the back). They were very tiny. At first glance, I was shocked by it, my instinct was yelling but I didn't have the proper resources to research on temporary shelters norms. After coming back from Philippines, I started researching and I found that many others have also questioned on those bunkhouses.
I understand that these are temporary shelters but seeing the magnitude of the disaster, I am positive that it will take years to rebuild Tacloban and the areas. Toilets and kitchen were in a common area. I even got to use one of the toilet: no flushing capabilities, no seat and no toilet paper. I had to come out of the enclosed toilet to get water to manually flush and get my own alcohol wipes to clean my hands. Don't get me wrong, I was super happy about having a toilet and when in disaster, it makes you appreciate what you have back home (toilet paper, toilet seat, even though I don't use it in public places, soap...) and also makes you realize that to survive, the Human only need the basics.
I saw how the temporary shelters were made - a very simple bunkhouse in rows with a door and two windows (one in the front and one in the back). They were very tiny. At first glance, I was shocked by it, my instinct was yelling but I didn't have the proper resources to research on temporary shelters norms. After coming back from Philippines, I started researching and I found that many others have also questioned on those bunkhouses.
I understand that these are temporary shelters but seeing the magnitude of the disaster, I am positive that it will take years to rebuild Tacloban and the areas. Toilets and kitchen were in a common area. I even got to use one of the toilet: no flushing capabilities, no seat and no toilet paper. I had to come out of the enclosed toilet to get water to manually flush and get my own alcohol wipes to clean my hands. Don't get me wrong, I was super happy about having a toilet and when in disaster, it makes you appreciate what you have back home (toilet paper, toilet seat, even though I don't use it in public places, soap...) and also makes you realize that to survive, the Human only need the basics.
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