WHEN DISASTER STRIKES

By Jennifer Robinson / Web Producer

Published January 5, 2021 at 12:07 PM PST

Aliana Alexis of Haiti stands on the concrete slab of what is left of her home after destruction from Hurricane Dorian in an area called "The Mud" at Marsh Harbour in Great Abaco Island, Bahamas on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2019.

Thursdays, Sept. 14 and 21, 2023 at 9 p.m. on KPBS 2 / Stream the series now with KPBS Passport!

Today, natural disasters threaten the planet with increasing ferocity. They strike without warning, tearing apart infrastructure and destroying lives. How should the world respond, and how can vulnerable populations be better prepared in the future?

WHEN DISASTER STRIKES, a three-part documentary series, explores what happens after natural disasters occur in three countries: a cyclone that brings biblical floods in Mozambique, a deadly drought that destroys lives and livelihoods in Somalia, and an historic hurricane that ravages the Bahamas. Each episode charts the on-the-ground response over months as frontline workers race to save lives, restore order from chaos and turn despair into hope.

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See the mechanics of disaster relief from the heroes responding on the ground. Government leaders, humanitarians and survivors tell their extraordinary personal stories of determination and hope.

WHEN DISASTER STRIKES offers a rare view into the mechanics of disaster relief, revealing extraordinary stories of bravery and hope as international agencies respond from one global crisis to the next.

In an NGO-run temporary camp for those displaced by Cyclone Idai, health workers, including Julia Mutondo, try to prevent a malaria outbreak. Abby Weems of Team Rubicon USA is working with Julia at a healthcare center in one of these camps, tending to those in need. For Mozambicans like Julia, treating members of her community after a disaster like Cyclone Idai can be an emotional experience.

From unsung community heroes to humanitarians bringing valuable skills from around the world to government ministers guiding their communities through unprecedented crises, remarkable personal stories of determination and resilience emerge.

Duane Sands, the Minister for Health, explains that since it was struck by Dorian, the island of Grand Bahama has had to rely on a mobile, inflatable hospital complex, flown in by a US-based organization called Samaritan’s Purse. It has been set up next to the damaged hospital that used to serve Grand Bahama’s main town.

Working at a furious pace, relief teams assess and focus on four critical areas of need: food, water, health and shelter. Although facing agonizing decisions and intense pressures, they are determined to ensure that survivors will be ready if it happens again.

People displaced by the drought arrive at a camp in Southern Somaliland, where they are processed and provided with basic aid items. As the UNHCR’s Sarah Khan points out, this isn’t a long-term solution. Laura Hammond, an academic and expert on this region, explains that there is more to be done to prevent these displacements from happening in the first place.

EPISODE GUIDE:

Episode 1: “A Perfect Storm: Mozambique” Thursday, Sept. 14 at 9 p.m. on KPBS 2 - Hear the extraordinary story of bravery and hope after Cyclone Idai strikes Mozambique. The world races to help rescue and support survivors from flooding on a biblical scale.

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Cyclone Idai destroyed an entire shantytown in Beira, Mozambique. One of its former residents, Dino, witnessed his home being flooded. Swimming was the only way to escape. His wife, Marta, is now at a government-run evacuation center in the city because he and his family have nowhere else to live and no way of earning a living.

Episode 2: “The Silent Killer: Somalia” Thursday, Sept. 21 at 9 p.m. on KPBS 2 - Hear shocking stories as another drought strikes Somalia. Mass migration, food shortages and malnutrition mean famine is a very real threat, but resolute humanitarians race to meet the basic needs of the most vulnerable.

Hear shocking stories as another drought strikes Somalia. Mass migration, food shortages and malnutrition mean famine is a very real threat, but resolute humanitarians race to meet the basic needs of the most vulnerable.

Episode 3: “Paradise Lost: Bahamas” Stream now with KPBS Passport - Hear an epic tale of survival as one of the Caribbean's strongest hurricanes strikes The Bahamas. The government and international aid workers battle to meet the survivors' basic needs in the chaos of the aftermath.

Hear an epic tale of survival as one of the Caribbean’s strongest hurricanes strikes The Bahamas. The government and international aid workers battle to meet the survivors’ basic needs in the chaos of the aftermath.

Watch On Your Schedule:

The series is available on demand now with KPBS Passport, a benefit for members supporting KPBS at $60 or more yearly, using your computer, smartphone, tablet, Roku, AppleTV, Amazon Fire or Chromecast. Learn how to activate your benefit now.

Credits:

A Windfall Films Production for PBS. Johnny Shipley is the series producer. David Dugan is the executive producer. Executive in charge for PBS is Bill Gardner.

WHEN DISASTER STRIKES

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