Super Typhoon Haiyan, Philippines
By AdministratorA super typhoon that the US Navy's Joint Typhoon Warning Center has called the most powerful storm to make landfall anywhere on Earth in recorded history devastated the Philippines on November 8 (local). Over 10 million people were in the path of the storm, which is 300 miles across with a wind speeds up to 235mph and tidal surges of 12-15 feet. On the Dvorak Scale, which measures tropical cyclone intensity on a scale of 1.0-8.0, Haiyan has rated a full 8.0. The force was 3.5 times greater than Hurricane Katrina.
UPDATE 11 NOV 0555 ET: Over 10,000 are now feared dead; hundreds of thousands are stranded and in desperate need of food and water in towns and villages strewn with bodies. Multiple local and international agencies are scrambling to respond to the humanitarian need, which includes residents who lost their homes in an earthquake several weeks ago and were forced to ride out the storm in makeshift shelters.
Foundation Beyond Belief has selected CITIZENS' DISASTER RESPONSE CENTER, a seasoned and effective community-based relief organization in the Philippines, as the first beneficiary of the current drive, and TEAM RUBICON, an outstanding disaster response organization of military veterans as the second beneficiary. The first $50,000 will be forwarded to CDRC; the remainder will go to Team Rubicon, which is currently (15 NOV) arriving in the Philippines with medical and rescue support.
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NEWS / UPDATES:
11 NOV: Survivors beg for help after typhoon kills at least 10,000; 600,000 displaced (Chicago Tribune)
09 NOV: Death toll likely exceeds 1,000 (CNN)
08 NOV: What is a typhoon? (Natl Geographic)
07 NOV: The most powerful typhoon in history (Daily Mail)
07 NOV: "Off the charts" super typhoon Haiyan hits Philippines (NPR)
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RECIPIENT FOR CURRENT DRIVE: THE CITIZENS’ DISASTER RESPONSE CENTER (CDRC) is a non-governmental organization that pioneered and continues to promote community-based disaster management in the Philippines. CDRC operates nationwide through a network of regional centers affiliated with the Citizens’ Disaster Response Network and through civic organizations. Organized in 1984, CDRC focuses its assistance on the most affected, least served, and most vulnerable sectors of the population through preparedness and mitigation, emergency relief, and rehabilitation programs.