Tacloban , Philippines ( CNN ) -- `` It is like a tsunami has hit here . '' These were the first words from CNN 's Paula Hancocks , as she arrived in the storm-battered eastern city of Tacloban on board a military transport plane . Leading the first international news team into this part of the Philippines in the wake of Super Typhoon Haiyan -- one of the strongest storms ever recorded to hit land -- Hancocks and crew hitched a ride from Manila with the country 's military , along with members of the World Food Program , the United Nations , local media and a load of food aid . This is her first account of the scenes she witnessed : . The damage in Tacloban looks almost identical to that caused by a tsunami . As we were flying over the area , it was quite clear there was a lot of water and a lot of destruction . The area is flooded and everything I can see has been damaged . Latest on Super Typhoon Haiyan : More than 100 killed in Tacloban . The sheer devastation and debris is something I have seen from tsunamis -- I have n't seen damage of this magnitude from a typhoon before . Every single tree is either flattened or broken off and stripped bare . This damage to the trees alone shows the strength of the winds . Officials tell me the storm surge came as high as the second story of the terminal building here and it clearly has devastated the structure . What was once inside the building is now strewn outside . Helicopters are taking off from the airfield -- this looks like it is becoming a staging point for the relief effort . It is hard to get a gauge right now on just how many casualties or how much damage the storm has caused here and across the country . In Tacloban , all the power lines are down and the airfield itself is badly damaged . The military and the U.N. are looking for where they should set up areas where residents can come to get assistance . This is the initial phase of the relief efforts . Typhoon tracker : Haiyan heads to Vietnam . There are a lot of residents wandering around looking lost -- they look like they 're not sure what they should be doing . It is difficult to know how many people will come to this area . The roads are inaccessible and completely cut off . There is barely a tree in its entirety standing , blocking roads . People are coming to the terminal area as they believe this is where food and water and first aid will be administered . The head of the World Food Program told me what they have to do in the first few hours is figure out what they can do -- figure out the lay of the land , where they can get to , where they ca n't get to and that will take some time . And that is also a major task facing the military -- getting to the areas they need to get to . It is going to take heavy machinery and a lot of work before they can reach those who need help . The first challenge will be providing food and water as well as shelter . A couple of residents have approached me . One , a young man with his baby daughter looked very shell-shocked and very shaken up . He was waiting for some medical treatment . The medical facilities at this point are very rudimentary but that will change in the coming hours . I have also had many people wave and smile at me . They are familiar with typhoons -- this country sees more than 20 typhoons each year but not at the level or scale brought on by this storm . Among the tasks facing relief workers is bringing in food for these people . Food and water are the main issue facing residents . I can see the military right now carrying in tents to certain areas -- for medical purposes or to provide shelter . There are some structures that remain intact but they look very dangerous in themselves . Twisted and unstable -- it is not an ideal situation for people to shelter but there are no alternatives right now . Are you in the affected area ? Send us your images and video but please stay safe .
Paula Hancocks are crew are the first international news team to reach Tacloban . Hancocks : Debris and destruction everywhere . Relief efforts are at an early stage . Roads are inaccessible , hard for authorities to gauge full impact of storm .