The Aftermath Of A Super Typhoon

The number of dead in the Philippines is expected to continue to rise

At least 375 confirmed deaths in the Philippines from Super Typhoon Rae. It is feared the number will continue to grow.

One woman I’ve been in contact with lives at the base of a mountain and says mudslides have taken out many of her neighbor’s homes. They are without power and have no water. She climbs to the top of the mountain to get a cell signal to give me once-daily updates. Her family is considering evacuating but don’t know where to go. I am anxiously awaiting her next update.

I’ve lost touch with another friend in the Philippines. She lives near the sea and is in an area that was hit very hard. I’m hoping she and her family are OK and they just have no way of contacting the outside world.

Another friend reports that her village has been without power so people have been using candles for lights. Careless use of candles, mainly by children, has resulted, she says, in homes burning to the ground. I have no idea on the number of casualties and I’m awaiting an update from her, too.

Substantial help may not be coming anytime soon. The Rappler news site reports that the government is claiming that its emergency funds are depleted. But President Rodrigo Duterte is pledging to find money. Somewhere.

Rappler also posted this heart wrenching story about 17 children, nine adult civilians and six police officers who clung to the top of trees for more than 12 hours awaiting rescue from flood waters. It took three attempts to rescue them. They now have no homes and no alternative shelter and no means of receiving water and food.

Many Philippine nationals living abroad are recommending sending direct aid to people in need. But, of course, one must have the trusted contacts in the Philippines to be able to help. A close friend of mine is donating her entire paycheck to the effort. Sending the money to her sister in the Philippines who then buys the needed water and staples and heads out to one of the more devastated areas with her boyfriend to hand them directly to the people who need it.

The good news is that U.S. currency can go a long way to help. As of this posting, one U.S. dollar equals more than 50 Philippine pesos. So even a small contribution can assist many people.

I’ve done some research on relief agencies. I’m including this link to the highly rated Direct Relief in case you might be interested in donating some funds.

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