As you may have seen in the news, Typhoon Rai, also called Odette, hit the Philippines, Vietnam, and Malaysia. They are calling it a super typhoon with an intensity equivalent to Category Five hurricanes. Nearly 400 people have died from the storm, with numbers expecting to increase as the rescue and aid efforts continue. The storm traveled across the Philippines December 15-17, 2021, and it is currently listed as the 4th costliest typhoon to hit the Philippines. We want to come together with you to help those affected.
Staying Updated:
- Follow the current situation in the Philippines.
- #OdettePH has a plethora of information on all social media channels but only trust reputable sources.
- If you are experiencing emotional distress or need someone to talk to, reach out to IMAlive to chat with a trained crisis intervention volunteer.
How You Can Help:
- If you are local to affected areas and have an idea to help someone, apply for an act of kindness here like Anwesha did last year.
- Give blood if you are able. Even if you are not near an affected area, your donation can ease the stress on medical centers everywhere.
- The Philippine Red Cross and UNICEF Philippines ask for monetary or in-kind donations.
- Be patient and kind with people. Check on those in the affected areas. Listen and comfort them. These are simple things, but they impact others greatly.
We have some tips on disaster preparedness or disaster risk reduction, but we know these only go so far. We can help fund acts of kindness in the local community, and regional representatives can help you get started. Severe weather events like this are becoming increasingly common due to man-made climate change, and we need to start looking at solutions to that as well as helping people at the moment when disaster occurs.