Typhoon Rai (local name Odette) left havoc to millions of Filipinos as “one of the world’s strongest storms” of 2021 made landfall in the central and southern part of the Philippines, Thursday, December 16, 2021.
According to PAGASA, Philippines ’ weather forecast bureau, Odette initially made its first landfall in Surigao del Norte’s Siargao Island at 01:30 pm, then Cagdianao, Dinagat Islands at 3:10 pm.
Days before the typhoon hits the Philippines, the local weather bureau warned for evacuation as Typhoon Rai shows significant attributes compared to Typhoon Sendong which wiped out major cities in the southern Philippines in 2011. Weather forecast reports that Typhoon Rai develops swiftly between hours and was earlier expected to supersede the tragic experience of Typhoon Sendong. According to PAGASA, a few hours before Odette made landfall, it increased its sustained winds and rainfall.
National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported that 98,000 people from 26,420 families have been evacuated over both regions in preparation for the storm.
Typhoon Odette is now on its way to the southwestern part of the Philippines passing over the Panay Gulf and heading towards Palawan.
With wind speed increasing to 195 kilometers per hour (121 miles per hour) near the eye and gustiness up to 240 km/h (149 mph), Typhoon Odette is expected to leave destruction to its path.
Local government units are yet to estimate the total damage to national property as most areas affected by the typhoon are submerged to flooding, no electric and communication facilities, and not passable major roads due to landslides and road blockages.
There are close to 16 million people living in the provinces that are to be affected by Typhoon Rai, 3.8 billion of which live below the poverty line.
ADRA Philippines has activated its Emergency Response Team and is currently coordinating with all the Adventist Community Services Coordinators of the Missions and Conferences that will be affected by Typhoon Odette.
Several reports from the field describing how vast the damage inflicted by the typhoon in areas widely affected are coming in however, due to some communication challenges, information is yet to be finalized.
Communication with ADRA teams designated in Mindanao and Visayas are currently non-existent. NGOs and national government agencies face the same setback trying to get data from the affected areas. ADRA Philippines deployed a team to go and conduct a rapid assessment of the damage in northeastern Mindanao, and we are praying for their safety.
If you want to find out how you can extend help and send donations to our friend affected by Typhoon Odette, please refer to the information below:
You may give via these donation channels:
GCASH: 0977 656 0979 (Ralph Balasico, banking officer)
Paypal
Peso: https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick...
Dollar: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=ATYECV9DWVL9U
Bank Deposit / Transfer
Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI)
Name: ADRA
Account Number: 8501-0028-37
Philippine National Bank (PNB)
Name: Adventist Development and Relief Agency
Account Number: 243-8700022-88
Banco de Oro (BDO)
Name Adventist Development and Relief Agency Foundation Inc.
Account Number: 011 648 001362