Hernani, Eastern Samar, a fifth-class municipality, with a population of 8,070 (2010 census), has 13 barangays (village units). There were 76 deaths, 6 missing, and 80 percent property devastation secondary to the storm. The municipality is 61 kilometers north from Guiuan, which has a small airport, and 58 kilometers south of Borongan, the capital of Eastern Samar. Two of the barangays, which were wiped out by the storm surges, had been “condemned” by the provincial government (i.e. will no longer be rebuilt nor resettled). The team was composed of 25 volunteers as follows:
- Team leader, Dr. Eric Talens, Director, Ugnayan ng Pahinungod Manila; Trauma Surgeon and Chief of the Division of Trauma Surgery, PGH.
- 5 physicians, 1 Dentist, 2 EMT’s, 2 RN’s, 2 Pahinungod officers,
- 4 NGO volunteer mountaineers
- 8 civilian volunteers
Repacking of the following relief and medical supplies were done by volunteers from University of the Philippines Manila and other NGO’s who trooped to Philippine General Hospital (PGH) Nurses’ Home.
- 1,568 family packs (2 kilos of rice, 6 canned goods, 4 packs instant noodles, 5 packs biscuits, and 5 sachets of instant coffee/chocolate.
- 1000 shelter packs (1 mosquito net for 5 people) and 1 sleeping mat (for 4)
- 722 blankets
- 881 Hygiene kits (5 toothbrushes, 1 tube toothpaste, 1 family bath soap, 2 small towels, 1 bottle shampoo, 1 pack sanitary napkin, 1 sachet laundry soap, 1 bottle each of Betadine, Hydrogen peroxide, rubbing alcohol, 10 pcs sterile gauze, 1/2 in micropore tape and 1 pack cotton balls)
- 258 Kiddie packs (1 coloring book, 1 box crayons, 1 stuffed toy, 1 pair kiddie slippers)
- 419 tarpaulin sheets (380 brand new; 39 used) (can be used as temporary roof)
- 125 underwear packs (each pack has 4 pairs lady’s underwear and 1 pair man’s briefs)
- 285 packs of diapers (112 packs small, 60 packs medium; 50 packs large; 5 adult diapers)
- 8 big boxes of used slippers and shoes
- 1 big box of various donated toys
The team left PGH at 3 a.m. on Dec. 3, 2013. Personnel and cargo were transported by a private group (6 vehicles), from PGH Nurses’ Home to Villamor Air Base. The entire team and cargo took the government C130 flight (Manila to Guiuan) through arrangements with the Philippine Air Force. Transportation of the team from Guiuan to and from Hernani, as well as security through the roads, were provided by the 11th Marine Battalion. The local contingent of the World Food Program, Inc. provided an additional two trucks to deliver the rest of the relief goods from Guiuan airport to Hernani. The team brought their own food, drink and camping needs. Volunteer mountaineers, and some team members cooked and set up camp. The first night in Hernani was spent in two volunteer homes. The team rested with the squad of marines providing security. The medical mission started early the following day after a temporary shelter from the sun was set up by the marines. There were 80 medical consultations and 6 surgical procedures, including emergency circumcision for preputial stricture secondary to trauma, 3 debridements for neglected wounds, and 2 incision and drainages for subcutaneous abscesses. Relief goods were distributed with assistance from the Local Government Unit. The team travel\ed back to Guiuan that afternoon. Eleven members opted for the predictable but long and arduous land trip back to Manila. The rest of the 14 members waited for the unpredictable C130 flight the following day. All the team members were back in Manila by the evening of Dec. 5, 2013.
