Relief Effort in Chile

Much of Chile has suffered total destruction

A massive earthquake and tsunami hit on February 27. The earthquake and tidal wave damage is devastating. The epicenter was just 5km from Save The Waves Coastkeeper office. Friends, colleagues and neighbors in coastal Chile need everyone’s help now more than ever. The destruction to infrastructure is severe, and includes massive damage to buildings and roads, drinking water systems, power grids, and communication. Aid and relief in the next few weeks will be crucial to help save lives.

Man on the outside of Putu in front of what was his old house which will have to be demolished. Photo: Philip Muller

The primary focus of our ongoing relief mission is to provide clean drinking water to hundreds of thousands of Chileans who are currently without water. Save The Waves has partnered with Waves for Water to bring filter systems for clean drinking water, and is currently distributing 1,000 filters enough for 20,000 people in the earthquake zone to get clean water.

Many survivors in Chile now have safe, abundant water. This is the direct, and immediate, result of coupling our talents, experience & resources with the compassion & funds donated by so many people.

Save the Waves relief team distributes initial supplies. Photo: Philip Muller

Because Save The Waves Coalition’s ongoing environmental work is in the same area as the disaster, the organization is uniquely positioned to help direct humanitarian relief efforts in the region. Patagonia Inc, the outdoor apparel company, has stepped up and provided significant support for this initiative, and has been rallying others to join the cause.

All donations to Save The Waves for Chile earthquake relief will go directly to humanitarian work on the ground in the devastated regions near the quake and tsunami epicenter. Humanitarian aid efforts will be focused in the rural coastal areas where help and aid are less available.

Professional surfers Kohl Christensen and Greg Long help locals build water filter systems in Llico, Chile. Photo: Philip Muller

Since Save The Waves is a well respected organization, with years of experience in coastal Chile, support for this effort will be extremely effective, with no bureaucratic roadblocks or delays -just pure aid for the coastal communities that are in dire need. Can learn more and participate at: www.savethewaves.org/news/view/111

See the results of our efforts now: http://www.savethewaves.org/news/view/113
Also: See 20 more amazing photos and read stories from ground zero: http://www.surfline.com/surf-news/chile-earthquake–pros-lead-relief-response_41564/.

J/P HRO Haiti Water Mission

Water for Haiti from santos on Vimeo.

Jon Rose, once a pro-surfer, now dedicates his time to distributing water filters to places that need it most. When the earthquake hit- him and JPHRO immediately began to take action in the relief efforts. This is a small mission I went on during my time volunteering with both organizations.

Intense – Jon Rose

Sometimes experiences are difficult to put into words. The ones so rich, that you can actually feel yourself changing right then and there. I guess the best word to describe yesterday is INTENSE. Each day seems to get more and more enhanced. Maybe its because I’m getting more in rhythm, or maybe because I’m pushing a little harder – probably a combo of both.

I went back to Delmas 31, with Sylla, first thing in the morning. We brought another local with us to drive, so that Sylla could focus on translating. Dr. Raul Ruiz, our chief staff doctor, decided to tag along as well. Once again, we had no real plan other than giving goods to the 2 or 3 other camps located near the one we did the previous night (Syla’s family’s camp).

We packed a bunch of product into the back of the truck. It’s a little pick-up, with a metal cage welded over the bed, but still open entry to the back. I felt a little weary about going into the thick of it with so much product exposed and really no manpower. When we do food drops to areas like this we have security, etc. Once again I had to trust my gut and charge onward.

There was one thing that we were unaware of though – word had gotten out from the previous night. People from Sylla’s family’s camp had already started using the systems and word was spreading like wildfire about how clean their water was. Apparently one woman said her baby had diarrhea for two weeks and it finally stopped with only one nights worth of filtered water. Coincidence? Maybe. Although, clean water will do wonders for just about anybody, especially a baby. Whatever the case, the local word-of-mouth news network certainly messed up our strategy to fly under the radar.

We arrived at the first camp and as soon as I pulled out some materials to do a demo, Dr. Ruiz and I found ourselves pinned against a wall … on the INSIDE of the compound! The truck was parked outside and Sylla was trying to organize the crowd. Everyone was hustling to form a line because they thought I was going to give stuff out one by one. All of the merch was still in the truck and Sylla had asked some guys he knew from the neighborhood to help with crowd control while we did the demonstration. I felt claustrophobic and trapped.

Whenever I’m in situations like this though, somebody random always comes out of nowhere to help … like an angel of sorts. In this case it was a man named Jean Paul. Right away he started organizing the crowd, and they listened to him. I found out later that he is a community organizer for that area and not only did he obviously have the respect of the people, he also had an office with a lockable door next to the camp. I knew I could give him all of our filters & buckets and he would then get names to distribute them at a later time. It was the only option. Had we tried to give stuff out from the back of the truck, it would have started a riot – no doubt in my mind!

People were already agitated and once again we didn’t have enough for everyone, and there never is – the numbers are just mind boggling, so there’s just never enough.

After my demo, Jean Paul and his crew somehow got about half of our stock unloaded, through the crowd, and into his office. I exchanged info with him and he said he would update me once the filters had been distributed. Dr. Ruiz and I climbed into the back of the truck with the rest of our goods AND, the guys who watched it for us.

As we pulled away, someone came out of nowhere, reached through the cage, and stole a filter right out of the box.

I realized that they weren’t getting out. Sylla said that he promised to give the guys who did security for us some filters, in return for their efforts. Of course I was more than happy to do so. So we stopped a little ways down the road and I quickly pulled out some stock for them.

Instantly the truck was mobbed again. I banged on the tailgate for the driver to move. As we moved away from the growing crowd a man, in a beanie, started yelling at me in English – “Why do they get some and not me? Huh bro? What about me?!” I could see the desperation in his eyes and frankly, I couldn’t blame him for. He started running after us and since we were going so slow, he got within a few feet from my leg, which was hanging over the tailgate. He yelled some more and began to lunge towards me. The driver accelerated just in time. The guy stood in the middle of the street with his arms raised. As we got further and further away, I watched closely at his shrinking silhouette.

Lesson Learned! and thankfully, not at the cost of anyone’s safety. What happened there, was exactly the reason why I only try to work with the bigger local networks to help organize and get our supplies out. But, I have always loved the intimacy of a grassroots, street level drop. I’ve done them many times in villages, all over the world, and it always works great. But this is a completely different scenario. The urgency that accompanies catastrophes completely changes the whole dynamic.

Sylla and I agreed that he and Jean Paul would meet at a later time to coordinate a covert drop for the rest of the goods I had allocated for that area.

In retrospect, I can clearly see we were only one click away from a serious predicament. I’ve said it before, but I really do believe that in doing this work, from the heart, I am protected. I have to trust that … or else I have nothing.

I’m in my tent and though it’s a crystal clear evening, I put my rain-fly on so I can have some time to myself … I need it!

Much love,
Jon Rose

Everybody Needs Everything

Yesterday was flat out awesome! It’s so great to have such a big stockpile of filters to work with. In the morning, Paula (from David Belle’s network in Jacmel), came with a huge truck and picked up the 1500 filters I promised to the Crose Network. It feels so good to follow through on my word. Paula is a dread-headed Rasta woman with honest eyes and a calming presence. When I was coordinating with her on the phone she told me she was a little surprised to hear from me again so soon. Paula was there for my filter workshop in Jacmel a couple weeks ago and heard that I had flown back to the states. Now, when she heard from me again so soon, she said to me on the phone (while chuckling) yes I, back so soon What are you doing? You crazy mon!. I guess since this is a place where every one is trying their hardest to leave, she was shocked to see me returning to the front lines.

But here I am handing off thousands of filters to Paula and have already received an email from her telling me about her amazing distribution process and the clean water it’s providing. Already I am filthy dirty, and smiling. I know we will be working with this group for a long time to come.

After Paula left, I went to a meeting with Sean and Oscar (operations guy at our camp), to see the pastor who helps govern the tent camp we have directly below us now at 50k in population. Since I first arrived on the scene, I’ve been trying to find a way to distribute filters in this camp, but can’t come up with a civil and just way to decide who gets what. Everybody needs everything and they all deserve it, but because we have a limited amount, it has to be planned out or riots will erupt. Our strategy meeting went well. I could see that the pastor really does care about his people and wants to work out a fair protocol to distribute our filters through the camp.

Later in the day I ventured out with enough materials for 30 systems to a district of 3-4 tent camps in an area called Delmas 31. This area is where Sylla’s family is now living. I wanted to use the camp with his family as a test-run for the area. I had no real distribution plan other than letting Sylla coordinate once we got there. Plus this particular camp only has about 50 people in it so it would be more manageable. Just Sylla and I on this outing, so if things got out of hand we could be in real trouble very fast.

It was awesome as grass roots as it gets. I did a demonstration at the entrance to the camp with about 30 people. Men women and children all crowded around. They watched with curious eyes and as soon as they GOT IT, things went from casual, to everyone wanting one. We were able to manage it but I don’t have to speak creole to know that there were some bad f%#@ing words being thrown back and forth. We were able to give the stock to the camp organizer so he could get a list of names and pass them out the next day. If you don’t have some kind of order, then people on the street will rock up and crash lines and start grabbing stuff, because they see the crowd.

By days end, I felt damn good about our efforts. This whole thing feels like I’m constantly swimming upstream… and that’s to be expected. But days like yesterday make the currents feel less strong and made of beer. Why not?
Adios! – Jon Rose

You Ready? – Haiti

There’s really no substitute for putting in the hours. The only way to have an even semi effective operation down here is to personally oversee every stage. Simply put, it just comes down to time spent. There’s so much chaotic energy that it’s so easy for good intentions to slip through the cracks a fall apart.Yesterday was a good day. I was finally able to return to the northern region and deliver the filters I had promised Scott Bonnell’s group. When we arrived to the church the main pastor, Albert, who manages 130 churches, greeted us. It was Sunday morning, so church was still in session. Because Albert wasn’t able to attend my filter demonstration a couple weeks ago, it was crucial that he was here today. We unloaded the goods and he said “You ready?” I replied “sure”, not really knowing what he was talking about. I followed him and all of a sudden I was standing at the podium with the local pastor in front of everyone. He said, “You ready to teach?”. I was planning on just dropping the stuff off, but since the entire community was there for Sunday service, why not use the opportunity to demonstrate. It was classic with a PA system and everything . . . was such a moment.
To truly connect on a grass roots level with the community is what this whole thing is about. I felt so damn good to deliver on my word. Everyone really had a look of surprise on their faces when I returned.On the way home my driver/translator, Sylla proceeded to give me a history lesson on the tremendous violence that has plagued his country for generations, and has only recently (past 3-4 years) slowed down. We drove through an area that he said is (still) considered the most dangerous part of Haiti. I might add that the prison was ruined in the quake as well, and 4000 inmates lived through it and were able to escape. Sylla mentioned that most of them would certainly be hiding in this area, as they have always claimed it to be theirs. He said that four years ago he wouldn’t have dared drive through there, but it has since gotten better and with the earthquake things have slowed down even more. It sounded much like the violence we Southern Californians are so aware of in Baja. This area is on the outskirts of PAP and no police ever go there. He said they used to hide in caves in the neighboring hills and would set up road blocks for ambushes on passing cars. Kidnapping was the primary business. A little unsettling since we were passing directly through it. However, I have still yet to feel unsafe. I really believe that in doing this work, I am protected. and everything will work out for the best. It’s just a feeling . . . hard to describe.

Looking up right now, my mind is adrift. Nothing but stars!!!
Its a new day . . .
- Jon Rose


Tents, Rice, Water – Haiti

Happy Superbowl… I think it’s today? Who am I kidding, I don’t even know who’s playing!
Made another food drop yesterday. Six bags of rice – to a tent community that has seen little to no support. There were only four of us so we had to be smart. You absolutely can not just rock up and start passing stuff out at random. The plan was to 1 – follow up a lead we had for a particular representative that the community would listen to, 2 – give him the bags as quickly as possible, and 3 – get out. We found him, and though his trustworthiness was questionable, we stuck to the plan.

Later I took a walk with a couple UN reps down into the tent city just below our camp. It’s population has grown almost 20k since my last trip down here… which has only been one week! The entire camp is pushing 50k now. There is even a bit of commerce starting to develop. There are tents where people can buy snacks, or get their hair cut, or nails done. I even think I saw some sort of a red light district made from a special grouping of tents … which, if I’m right, is an incredibly heavy concept.

The main topic of conversation between all of us was – what are all the people going to do when it starts to rain? This particular camp is located along a hillside, with clusters of encampments in a gulley below. Rainy season starts in a month or so. Makeshift tents held up by sticks and separated, mostly by thin bed sheets – the issue is not only sanitation, but the high possibility of all the tents simply washing away. There has to be a solution … I am just unable to think of one. I do have faith that people who specialize in stuff like this are working tirelessly to help remedy this intense situation.

There’s just so much devastation … It really is hard to feel like you’re making a dent. Over the past two days I’ve been all over the city, and even in the bordering provinces. It doesn’t matter what street we walk down, they’re all thrashed. I keep hoping to turn down just one alley and find some unaffected pocket, but haven’t yet. If I sound a bit somber it’s probably more exhaustion than anything.

Here’s the deal – I’ve said since the beginning that it has been real hard to ever feel satisfied with our efforts, simply because of the numbers. For example, we may save two lives, but that’s instantly overshadowed by all the ones in front of us that we couldn’t help. But then today I had some new perspective creep in – How much do I cherish my life? How much do each of us value our individual lives? A LOT!! Right? Most people I know won’t argue with that. So if we each represent just a single life, then saving even a few lives starts to feel a lot more significant. I keep reminding myself of this … I have to.

Much love! – Jon Rose

We Need Help!

It’s Friday! … Feb 5th, 9pm EST. I’m in a cargo plane somewhere between Florida and the Caribbean. What a trip! Red-eye from LAX to Miami last night. I was only home for 5 days, which really wasn’t enough time to process the experience from the week before. There were a couple days where I really wasn’t present and felt as if I was literally standing outside myself … almost like watching my body go through everyday life, from afar.

It’s not surprising that I feel so much comfort in the idea of going back. I’m definitely a little rattled and it’s been such a short time being home that my heart still feels like it’s in Haiti. Going back to the front lines almost feels like the most natural thing to do.

I spent the entire day helping to coordinate the next J/P HRO shipment, which included 3000 more of our filters. Was a great experience helping the freight company and getting to know the system. We were scheduled to load and fly out on a DC 4 – a beautiful 60+ yr old. The plane is nothing short of bad-ass!!! We packed it to the brim and climbed up a step latter to get in. There’s no rules, just cargo and some random jump seats. The plane is not pressurized so we are only traveling at about 7000 ft. Throughout the flight I was able to chat with the pilots, who by the way, are a few of the most interesting cats I’ve ever met. They were telling me stories of landing in random countries, at night (w/ no lights), on a strip of grass. Hardcore… old school… Legends!

I’m sitting now, in the very back of the plane … It’s loud as hell and my ears are popping like crazy. I’m looking directly at the tons of filters we’re hauling, with a big grin, and I think to myself … what an amazing position to be in.

I’m very excited to see all of the people I promised filters to, with the goods in hand. This return trip really is a gesture of good faith more than anything. Yes, the filters we’re bringing in will help thousands of people, but I really want them to know that we’re serious and that our program is committed to Haiti for the long haul.

Landing soon…
– Jon Rose

Fighting for Survival – Haiti

Yesterday was gritty. We received a new shipment of medical supplies and food the night before. It was going to be our first attempt at doing a food drop in one of the tent cities, called San Teresa. We tried to drum up some ideas that might help us organize the distribution prior to getting there. Something like a number system, etc…because if you don’t have a handle on things it will turn into a riot in the blink of an eye.

As tension increases men fight over food & supplies

Most of these people are surviving on one meal, every 3 days, and under circumstances such as these, people will do almost anything for that meal…and unfortunately, we came very close to seeing just that. We had people line up in specific lines — such as pregnant women, or elderly, etc. But as soon as we’d start to pass out food to one line all the people from the other lines would rush towards it, stampeding everything in their path. We had a lot of food to pass out but not enough for the entire tent city. So we wanted to make sure that the pregnant woman, children, an elderly got the first rations.

At one point, we had to make a wall with our bodies, standing side by side and locking our arms together, so that the pregnant woman could grab food and get through the crowd safely. It took every bit of strength to hold my position as we got pushed and pushed by the massive crowd. There were a few times where we all got nervous because of fights almost breaking out. We were severely outnumbered and would have had no way to truly protect ourselves. We did the best we could and got food into the hands of thousands of people, but as we headed back to camp we all agreed that our system could be refined for next time. The whole thing was a gut check for me because it clearly reconfirmed the fact that just surviving the quake won’t be enough for some of these people. The fight to stay alive now and over the coming months is an even bigger challenge.

I’m writing this post from the floor of a army cargo plane. I had to wait at the airport for 6 hrs but finally found a spot on this plane, along with 180 other people. Most of the people are Haitian/Americans that were checking on family, etc. Everyone had the same look on their face — one of utter disbelief. I’m headed back to the US to regroup and recharge the batteries. I’ll be going back sometime in the next couple weeks to manage our next shipment of filters. It’s crucial that the distribution networks I set up actually get everything I have promised them. So much is happening down there that aid shipments can get lost or stolen very easily. You really have to walk it through every stage until it is in the hands of those in need…something which I am more than proud to do.

It’s surreal sitting on the floor of a giant cargo plane with no windows. Especially under these circumstances. None of it feels real.

These posts have been my therapeutic platform to process what I’ve experienced. I’ve looked to them as a way to exhale from one day to the next. If the byproduct is such that you have been inspired to contribute, in your own way, then great! But, know this: I’m honored to share this with you, and I am humbled by the good nature of humanity. I witnessed it, in its purest form, and it warms my soul. The people of Haiti have an incredibly hard road ahead and I feel like my heart was left behind with them. I’m dedicated to this cause and will be working with this country for months, if not years, to come. If anyone has questions or input please feel free to reach out. This whole thing is symbolic, in so many ways. But if there was one thing that consistently cried truth, it was this — We… as a people… are not alone.

Thank you! – Jon Rose

Hope, Help & Dispair – Haiti

The lack of sleep is starting to take its toll. Plenty of time to sleep when I get home though. Another incredibly productive day yesterday. I went to Jacmel with David Belle to demonstrate our program to his network. The leader of this group used to be the Minister of Agriculture and has a lot of influence within the communities. He runs a network, called KROS, that helps manage all sorts of humanitarian aid projects. He is the guy!

On the way to Jacmel, we stopped by the town of Leoganne – epicenter of the quake. David had been working for a few days on getting a young girl transported from the makeshift tent hospital there to a proper one in the states. She needed urgent care due to a completely shattered pelvis. She had been laying on a funky mattress in the medic tents, which have been enduring 100 degree temperatures for two weeks now.

We found some Israeli medics in P-A-P that agreed to take her, so we had them follow us to Leoganne. When we got there the local medics in charge said we couldn’t take any of their stretchers…making it awfully difficult to transport someone with a shattered pelvis. The Israeli medic and I had to carry the girl in a blanket to the bed of a small pickup truck. Though we had to keep the tailgate down, we were able to place a crusty old mattress in the truck-bed. I fastened some rope around the end of the mattress and secured the bed so she wouldn’t slide out on the bumpy 2 hr long drive back to P-A-P. She was in immense pain because there were very few pain meds left in Leoganne. The Israeli medic gave her some morphine so she could handle the long ride.

When she left we all felt good about our efforts, but that brief highlight was quickly overshadowed with thoughts of all the people in the camp we couldn’t help — a reality that makes it very hard to ever feel satisfied. In 30 minutes I saw the human life cycle in its simplest form. Case in point – just after we moved our girl to the truck I witnessed an elderly women start throwing up blood and cry out her last cry. Her body lay motionless and peaceful. Right now, everything happening here is on a very concentrated level. Like I said, in just a half hour we saved one life, just to watch another pass. Intense!

In Jacmel I gave a very organized demonstration of our water program to the leaders of KROS. After I was done they asked two things. “How many are you giving us?” I said, “3000!”. They answered with, “Can we get 10,000?” That was a great sign that my demonstration was well-received. I answered, “Yes! Over time, with the help of the American people, we will get you 10,000!”.

I want to take this opportunity to thank all of you for your support. It IS making a difference.

Cheers! – Jone Rose

Stench from Decaying Bodies – Haiti

With each new day, operations get smoother. It’s great to see progress and synergy becoming more consistent.

I ventured out with the medical team and set up a mobile station in a downtown section of Port-Au-Prince that was hit incredibly hard. These people have had very little attention – mainly due to inaccessibility. Many of the roads are blocked because of rubble, etc.

We stopped at the top of a hill in the middle of the destruction so we could scout for locations to set up shop. The stench from decaying bodies was stronger than anywhere else I’ve been so far. Almost every building in this area is collapsed and there’s just no way for people to get the bodies out. They have been trying to burn the rubble in areas where they know bodies are still entombed to eliminate the smells. A woman was walking around on the street, cutting orange peels, and handing them out for people to put under their noses.

This next part may be a bit graphic for some, and I apologize in advance, but this is part of the reality down here. Down the road a bit I saw the lifeless body of an unclaimed little boy. He was mostly covered by a sheet, but dogs had chewed away at his flesh and now just bones were left sticking out from under the sheet. In situations like this, it’s important to stay focused on your individual goal for the day, because if not, your emotions will surely get the best of you…and furthermore, hinder your ability to help.

We finally found a little shanty church courtyard where we could set up. The locals were inside singing sweet music and smiling despite all they’ve been through. These people are amazing!!! Being around them has impacted my life forever.

By the end of the day we had treated 340 people with varying ailments. One guy had his nose entirely ripped in the quake and it had been sewn back on by a first-response team. But he had not been looked at since and was developing an infection around the stitches. We were able to have our wound specialist restitch and dress it.

I had a personal moment that I’m still greatly touched by: A woman came in with a broken hip and her newborn. After the doctor was done checking them out she placed the baby in my arms because the mother needed her hands free to walk. I was instructed to carry the infant to the pharmacists, get some solution, and feed her. As I fed the child I realized that I was holding and nurturing the future of this country. I was overwhelmed with emotion and gratitude when I connected that. It was a symbolic moment that represented every reason for us being here.

Last night I had my first cold beer since I’ve been here. It was the best beer I’ve ever tasted! Still no shower, and my few items of clothing could stand upright on their own. I’ve gotten very accustomed to my daily baby wipe session.

All is good, and when I return home, there’s one thing I know for sure … My life will never be the same as it was before this.

If anyone is still wondering what, as a people, the purpose of our existence is…? Let me say, it is this! … To support one another and collaborate on making our planet better for those who will come after us.

Much love,  – Jon Rose