Elmhurst's Mark Dyer Gives First-hand Account to CNN on Devastation in the Philippines

Mark Dyer of Elmhurst, a member of the ShelterBox Response Team, has been in the Philippines providing assistance to those recovering from an earthquake that stuck the area several weeks ago.

But while he and his team were there, the situation became vastly more devastating as Typhoon Haiyan blasted through late last week, causing complete annihilation. 

Anderson Cooper of CNN interviewed Dyer Nov. 8. (See embedded clip.) Dyer said as the typhoon came through, many residents were already in temporary tent shelters due to the earthquake, and many of those shelters were completely blown away by the typhoon. 

"We were on the outside edge of the main storm surge," Dyer reported from Bohol. "It was very substantial storm, a lot of wind damage and huge amounts of rain. Basically just inundation with rain over a 24-hour period."

He said a four person ShelterBox team was attempting to move into the most devastated areas, but travel was very difficult. The biggest priority for the team has been to provide shelter and water, he said. 

Dyer is finally headed home, but ShelterBox team members remain to continue relief work. A post on Dyer's Facebook page early Monday morning said two new response teams had arrived: one to continue earthquake relief and one for typhoon relief.

ShelterBox Response Teams are highly trained volunteers that respond to natural and manmade disasters by delivering boxes of aid to families in need. Each box includes a disaster relief tent, water purification kit, cook-stoves, blankets and other supplies that help families survive and rebuild their lives in the days, weeks and even months after disasters strike.