Roaring waters invaded upon the land, pulverizing the homes and business of thriving coastal towns and leaving them in ghostly swamps, bloated bodies floating in the remains of civilization. Farther inland, raging winds pry the roofs from stable structures and whip debris through the air, severely injuring the already few survivors.
Typhoon Haiyan, which made landfall early Monday morning, has been named a “super typhoon” and is estimated to be the strongest in recorded history. Haiyan was 3.5 times more powerful than hurricane Katrina, which hit the United States in 2005, with sustained winds up to 120 mph and a massive storm surge of 5 feet.
Global warming may be the cause for the shocking increase in super typhoons and hurricanes. Over the past several decades, the strongest storms have grown stronger and more deadly.
Source: wunderground.com
While efforts were made to evacuate, thousands have lost their lives to the storm, though the number is unconfirmed due to the difficulty of finding and counting corpses. Those who have survived the storm were displaced, without food, clean water, supplies, or medical care. Many of the most vulnerable, elderly and newborns are already struggling against disease.
From halfway across the world, there are few hands on ways to help. However, many relief groups are working to help the survivors of super typhoon Haiyan, and need donations or experienced volunteers, such as:
American Red Cross http://www.redcross.org/what-we-do/international-services/where-we-help/asia/philippines
Direct Relief International http://www.directrelief.org/emergency/super-typhoon-haiyan-philippines-relief/
Global Giving http://www.globalgiving.org/projects/help-typhoon-haiyan-survivors-in-the-philippines/
Mercy Corps https://www.mercycorps.org/donate/help-typhoon-haiyan-survivors
OXFAM http://www.oxfam.org/en/philippines
Shelter Box http://www.shelterbox.org/deployment_details.php?id=140
UNICEF http://www.unicef.org.uk/landing-pages/Philippines-Childrens-Emergency/
World Food Programme https://www.wfp.org/donate/typhoon-philippines-a
Vacationing in the area can also help bolster the economy. Tourism was expected to bring in $5 billion to the country this year alone. The chocolate hills of Bohol, Manila, and the island of Boracay, major attractions of the Philippines, are largely untouched by the storm, and can’t afford potential tourists to bypass the country in its time of need.
