Christian Engineers of Water Missions International Respond to Philippine Disaster with Safe Water Today+Solutions for Tomorrow
"We believe that one day we will look back on Typhoon Haiyan and say, 'Out of that wall of water that killed thousands, God helped us provide safe water that is saving millions.'" -- George Greene III, P.E., Ph.D., Co-founder/CEO, Water Missions International
Contact: Rogers Hook, 843-327-1919, rhook@watermissions.org; Anna Nodtvedt, 843-442-2366, anodtvedt@watermissions.org; both with Water Missions International, 843-769-7395
CHARLESTON, S.C., Nov. 26, 2013 /Christian Newswire/ -- Millions in the Philippines are homeless....thousands are dead....devastation is indescribable. Can we dare to hope for a silver lining in Typhoon Haiyan? Biblical and modern history indicate YES...today's suffering can lead to tomorrow's solutions. The engineers of nonprofit, Christian relief and development organization Water Missions International are working to make that happen.
Consider the impact of other monster storms: 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. Water Missions International's headquarters of Charleston, SC, re-emerged from 1989's Hurricane Hugo to be a world-class center of history and culture.
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 NONPROFIT, CHRISTIAN RELIEF AND DEVELOPMENT ENGINEERING ORGANIZATION, providing sustainable safe water and 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 has 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.
These kinds of immediate and sustainable solutions is what corporate sponsors like Fed Ex, and partners like Franklin Graham's Samaritan's Purse Operation Blessing, 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, God helped us provide 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 www.watermissions.org/haiyan.
MEDIA CONTACTS/RESOURCES:
About: Water Missions International is a nonprofit, Christian relief and engineering organization providing sustainable safe water and 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 safe water for 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. www.watermissions.org.
