In late December, 2006, Typhoon Durian made landfall on the island nation of the Philippines. The Typhoon’s initial devastation killed over a thousand people, displaced over one hundred thousand and ultimately affected over a million people. The disaster resulted in cases of acute watery diarreheals and cholera appearing throughout the affected populations. GlobalMedic responded to the request for help from local officials by deploying a five person Rapid Response Team to affected areas of the Philippines. The team set-up base of operations in the town of Daraga, located in one the areas most affected by the Typhoon. A second typhoon hit the affected area while the team was operational.
The team was equipped with mobile water purification units in order to distribute clean drinking water to those affected. The team installed a NOMAD Water Purification Unit in the town square of Daraga to function as a central depot for clean drinking water. The NOMAD produced enough clean drinking water for 70,000 people each day. The team utilized bladders and water trucks to distribute clean drinking water to those affected. The team also installed five TREKKER Water Purification Units in surrounding areas also in need of clean drinking water. Members of the RRT trained members of SNAP team who work under the National Mines Safety Group of the Philippines, in deployment of, use of, tear down of, and maintenance of the Noah Trekker Unit. The Trekkers were then donated to SNAP for future deployment operations. The GlobalMedic team also distributed 1.2 million Aquatab Water Purification Tablets.
