Typhoon Haiyan barreled through six central Philippine islands on Friday, wiping away buildings and leveling seaside homes with ferocious winds of 147 miles per hour and gusts of 170 mph. By those measurements, Haiyan would be comparable to a strong Category 4 hurricane in the U.S., and nearly in the top category, a 5.
The Philadelphia region is home to 35,000 Filipino-Americans, according to the Filipino-American Association.
"People sort of confide in me their sadness," said Rommel Rivera, president. "The community itself is devastated. There's a lot of concern, there's a lot of sadness, there's a lot of thoughts on how to donate."
NBC10 caught up with some of those in the area who are praying for the safety of their loved ones.
"We would have at least 20 storms come through the Philippines a year," said Fely Macmain, whose family flew from Rojas to Manila to escape the storm.
"They would have stayed there, but they would have been without electricity, internet," said Macmain.
Her husband, Jordan Macmain, says it's been a rough weekend and they've been trying to keep in touch with Fely's family members through Skype.
Other Filipino-Americans in this area are encouraging people to make donations to help typhoon survivors recover from this devastating storm.
"Per hut is $300, so that's about 15,000 pesos, so even if one dollar, if someone does one dollar or five dollars, it's more than nothing for people to get back into their homes," said Dianne San Luis.
The American Red Cross is also sending teams of volunteers from around the globe to help out.
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"We have two Americans on the ground dealing with assessment and that's really the big issue, identifying what people need," said Judge Renee Cardwell Hughes, CEO of the American Red Cross of Southeastern PA.
If you are trying to reach a loved one in the Philippines who is a U.S. citizen, you can call 215-299-4889. If your loved ones are not U.S. citizens, you should contact the State Department.
