CHARLESTON, S.C., Nov. 26, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --
"Looking back on Hugo, we can see how it strengthened our state in many ways. So, we can confidently look forward to the day we can say, 'Out of Typhoon Haiyan's wall of water that killed thousands came safe water that is saving millions.'" | ||||||||||||||||||
George Greene III, P.E., Ph.D. | ||||||||||||||||||
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Millions in the Philippines are homeless....thousands are dead....devastation is indescribable. Can we dare to hope for a silver lining in Typhoon Haiyan? Modern history, the people of Charleston, and the engineers of Charleston-based Water Missions International--say YES...today's suffering can motivate tomorrow's solutions.
Consider the impact of other monster storms: Two decades of rebuilding after Hugo has contributed to the re-birth of Charleston as a world-class center of history and culture. In the wake of the giant tsunami in 2004, Indonesia has implemented a new disaster-management strategy that could save countless lives in the future. Hurricane Katrina, which ravaged New Orleans in 2005, sparked a spirit of reform and poverty relief in the Big Easy.
So, what is the silver lining in Typhoon Haiyan? Life-saving, long-term safe water solutions.
Months before the most powerful storm on record slammed into the Philippines, experts worldwide warned of impending doom in the Philippines that could kill millions. The "Asian Water Development Outlook 2013 Report"-released on World Water Day, March 22, 2013-sounded the alarm for an "imminent water crisis" in the region if immediate steps were not taken to improve water quality and management (Asian Water Development Outlook 2013 Report).
"When Typhoon Haiyan ripped through the Philippines, we already had engineers in the region working to design and implement strategic, long-term, safe water solutions," said chemical engineer George Greene III, co-founder and CEO of Water Missions International, a Charleston-based nonprofit, Christian relief and development engineering organization, providing sustainable safewaterand sanitation solutions for people in developing countries and natural disasters. "Of course, our immediate focus shifted to helping the Super Typhoon Haiyan victims simply survive," said Greene, whose organization has responded to every major natural disaster since 2001.
Water Missions International, a key first-responder and thought leader within the global safe water community, activated emergency water supply efforts helping victims in the hardest hit areas. By Thanksgiving, the organization will have mobilized additional equipment and staff to serve 63 Philippine communities and a total of 315,000 people with their daily drinking water needs now--and for up to 20 years after installation--with training of local residents by Water Missions staff and engineers.
Charleston Mayor Joe Riley, along with the city's hospitality industry, and various local media hosted a press conference last week challenging the community to raise $100,000 for Water Missions International. Riley recalled the outpouring of help for the city after Hurricane Hugo in 1989 saying, "It made a huge difference in our recovery." The $100,000 goal would enable Water Missions to ship and operate four water systems, Greene said, providing daily safe drinking water for some 20,000 people. 'Charleston Responds,' is also rallying the community through Facebook and Twitter hashtag CHSresponds.
These kinds of immediate and sustainable solutions is what corporate sponsors like Fed Ex, and partners like Franklin Graham's Samaritan's Purse and The Pentair Foundation say motivate them to work alongside Water Missions International.
Water Missions is hoping that today's outreach to meet the immediate needs of the Philippines, will stimulate increased awareness of and support for efforts to head-off an even worse, yet preventable disaster. "Water-borne diseases threaten to claim far more lives in the Philippines than Typhoon Haiyan. If we heed the warnings now and act, we can give them safe drinking water and sanitation for generations to come," said Greene, who looks forward to the day when we can look back on Typhoon Haiyan and say, "Out of that wall of water that killed thousands came safe water that is saving millions."
Water Missions International, led and staffed by top engineers from across the U.S., is currently seeking support for immediate and long-term safe water solutions in the Philippines. For more information and contributions, visit watermissions.org/haiyan.
More on Charleston Responds at Twitter hashtag CHSresponds.
INTERVIEW REQUESTS/RESOURCES:
- High res photos & video: watermissions.org/haiyan
- For Interviews & Personal Stories from Philippines or US: blog.watermissions.org
- Rogers Hook
843.327.1919
rhook@watermissions.org - Anna Nodtvedt
843.442.2366
anodtvedt@watermissions.org
Water Missions International 843.769.7395
About:WaterMissionsInternational is a nonprofit, Christian relief and engineering organization providing sustainable safewaterand sanitation solutions for people in developing countries and disaster areas. Using state-of-the-art technology, leading engineering expertise, and customized solutions, the organization has provided access to safewaterfor more than 2.4 million people in 49 countries on five continents since 2001. Charleston, SC-based Water Missions International is among the 2% of charities to receive Charity Navigators' top 4-star rating seven consecutive years. watermissions.org.
SOURCE Water Missions International
