I have to start this blog entry by telling my mother, once again, that I am fine. Yes, Manila was flattened by major floods. Yes, typhoons followed the floods. Yes, many people suffered. Yes, the U.S. Embassy was flooded. But I am fine. And very lucky. Many others were not so fortunate.

Two weeks have passed since a tropical storm flooded Metro Manila. And while the stories of grief and destruction continue to mount, so do the stories of the millions of people, organizations and governments who have pitched in to help with relief and recovery. I’ve heard from so many about relief efforts. Some hoped the United States Government could do even more than we have done. Others wondered how they could help out. Others offered thanks for our help and that of so many others.

U.S. Marine handing out donated clothing U.S. Marine doctor helping a patient

I last wrote about the immediate actions taken by the U.S. Embassy in Manila. The day the floods hit, we gave USD 100,000 to the Red Cross. That is the maximum an Ambassador can offer immediately – additional funds require more approval from the U.S. Government. We also used the few rubber boats that the U.S. military had in country to help rescue people in the early hours after the flood. By two days later, we had a much larger relief operation underway. The U.S. Marines diverted a long-planned exercise with their Filipino counterparts into a flood relief exercise. Working with the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Marines used helicopters to deliver tons of food and relief supplies to areas isolated by the flood. Marine equipment, such as bulldozers and forklifts, joined their Filipino counterparts in clearing roads and debris. U.S. military trucks delivered food and relief supplies under the direction of the Philippine Department of Social Welfare and Development. Many of the supplies were those donated by private companies, including the largest two TV stations in Manila. U.S. military doctors and medics teamed up with Philippine military medical personnel to offer medical treatment in evacuation centers, treating more than 800 patients per day. The U.S. military also contributed several million dollars worth of medicines. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) donated $1.8 million dollars to relief organizations such as the Red Cross so that those in evacuation centers would receive food and supplies. USAID also flew in a planeload of non-food relief supplies, such as hygiene kits, plastic sheeting and plastic “jerry” cans for water. Those interested in learning more can read the details on our U.S. Embassy Manila website.

The Ambassador and Richard Gordon inspect a USAID package upon arrival at NAIA. The Ambassador hands out a relief package to a needy person in Laguna.

As flood waters recede, the U.S. military prepares to wind down their immediate relief operations and turn remaining activities over to civilian relief organizations and USAID turns their attention to ways we can support recovery efforts through technical assistance. But the stories of friendships formed in tough times continue to inspire. I watched U.S. military chaplains help a little girl in an evacuation center select clothes she liked from among those they were donating. They took her preference for color as seriously as if she were at a swanky store. I watched people waiting in line for food step aside in favor of the elderly among them. I saw students, business leaders, and sports figures sitting on the floor packaging relief goods for distribution. I saw Embassy colleagues whose homes had been totally flooded hard at work distributing relief supplies in evacuation centers. The Filipino spirit of giving was never more obvious or more welcome than during this difficult time.

Many wonder what they can still do to help those less fortunate get back on their feet after this devastation at the hands of Mother Nature. Those in Manila can still volunteer at their church, their school or their office to help. Those further away can help by contributing generously to relief organizations. Those funds help buy relief supplies for this flood and provide stock for relief supplies for future natural disasters.