According to the BBC News, Typhoon Hagupit, known locally as Typhoon Ruby, has gusts of up to 230km/h (143mph) and is due to hit land on Saturday evening. It is on course for the Eastern and Northern Samar provinces and will likely impact the city of Tacloban, which was devastated by Typhoon Haiyan last November.
There are conflicting accounts about the path and strength of Typhoon Hagupit (known locally as Typhoon Ruby). Recent reports indicate that the storm may be weakening and that it might veer north of some of the communities worst-affected by Haiyan, and pass south of the capital city of Manila. With millions of people living in this island country, however, we know that millions of people will be affected.
World Renew staff in the Philippines, together with the Christian Reformed Church of the Philippines, have been making preparations. World Renew’s staff has made sure that each barangay or village has planned evacuation places to go to. People in coastal barangays have already been evacuated to secure areas. World Renew staff are also meeting with the Christian Reformed Church of the Philippines to plan out the logistics of providing food assistance to those who will be affected by the approaching typhoon.
“In many communities, newly constructed houses built by World Renew will serve as a safe shelter and, in the Filipino spirit or attitudes, they always open their houses to others in times of disaster, even to those that are not relatives. We are confident that the communities we serve will be more prepared than when Haiyan struck last November” explains Jeff Cosico, one of World Renew’s Program Managers. The barangay leaders are all in touch with World Renew staff.
“Our hearts ache for the people in the potential path of the typhoon, who have already endured so much. We are praying that the typhoon will turn and weaken, and that people who are affected will be protected and spared” says Wayne de Jong, World Renew’s Director of Disaster Response and Rehabilitation.
Please pray for the people of the Philippines. Pray that the storm will change course and lose strength. Pray for World Renew’s staff as they prepare to respond to whatever needs might arise.
