The extent of loss was not immediately recognized by the government, but as the reports came in, the loss of roads, bridges, houses, and even entire villages became known. The great amount of water triggered mudslides that wiped away houses and even villages. Our welfare missionaries in Taiwan became immediately involved with Elder Chung, the Area Seventty with responsibility for Taiwan and Carl Liang, the Taiwan Service Center Manager. Trips were made from Taipei where these leaders lived to the destruction area. No damage was felt in Taipei and the rainfall was much more moderate. The church leaders in the south immediately worked to account for all members, missionaries, and assessed the damage to meetinghouses and members' homes.
Although over 200 fatalities have been identified after two weeks, no members have been identified as casualties. President Hoer of the Kaohsiung Mission immediately mobilized his missionaries and they were out shoveling away the mud from member's homes and assisting members and nonmembers alike as they sought to overcome the water and mud. Yellow vests with the church logo were worn by missionaries and members alike. Trucks with sprayers and generators were rented and the work force cordinated with Government officials and other relief agencies as food and supplies flooded into the affected area. Our immediate supervisor here in Hong Kong, Stanley Wan, traveled to the area to help coordinate the Church relief efforts. We have agreed to work with Tsu Chi, a buddhist charitable organization well know throughout the world for its environmental and compassionate charity work. We will help furnish homes that are being constructed to house those who lost everything. The pictures that follow try to capture the destruction and some of the relief efforts that the church is involved with. We have been working with coordinating the efforts with Salt Lake and communicating with the Sparrows on their needs. It has been an eye opening experience to see how rapidly destruction can hit but also the kindnesses of people as they reach out to help each other.
The southern tip of Taiwan took most of the water.
The streets were littered with refuse, mud and water.
Lots to clean up. The military brought in trucks, frontloaders, and other equipment to open roads and clean out the front of homdes.
The force of the water can be seen in this picture where cars were rolled onto a bridge.
Many houses near the rivers had their foundations washed away. One family of Church members were trapped on the 2nd floor of their home for two days before rescuers were able to bring them out. The first floor was completely covered with mud and water.
Bridges fell, roads crumbled, and many of the mountain villages were completely cut off. These villages are usually occuped by the indigenous people of Taiwan who suffer from poverty and lack of communication facilities.
This truck was rented to help the missionaries after they shoveled out the mud from a home. Then it was time to power spray the houses and inside before the mud cakes.
Misionaries donned their yellow helping hands shirts and played in the mud. They were featured on Taiwan TV and identified as American University students. The Church name was prominently displayed on the back of the vests.
This was the inside of a member's home that was covered with water.
Stanley Wan is visiting with Sister Weng, a member who spent two days with her family on the 2nd floor of their home before they were rescued.
The youth in northern Taiwan assembled 3,000 personal hygiene kits for delivery in the South.
The Northern Stakes assembling goods for the survivors.
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