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Stamford, Conn. – Nov. 7, 2013 – AmeriCares emergency response experts are closely monitoring the typhoon barreling toward the Philippines – one of the most intense storms on record. Super Typhoon Haiyan, locally known as Typhoon Yolanda, is expected to make landfall early tomorrow in the central Philippines with wind speeds above 150 mph – the equivalent of a Category 5 hurricane.
Thousands of Filipinos have been evacuated to emergency shelters throughout the region in anticipation of massive flooding and landslides. The storm is expected to affect Bohol province where families are still homeless in the aftermath of last month’s 7.1-magnitude earthquake.
AmeriCares stocks medicines and relief supplies in its warehouses in anticipation of major storms, and pre-positions relief supplies in the Philippines and other disaster-prone areas ahead of emergencies. The global health and disaster relief organization also has aid workers ready to be deployed at a moment’s notice.
“This storm system is so large that it could affect up to 4 million people, including earthquake survivors living in makeshift shelters,” said Garrett Ingoglia, AmeriCares vice president of emergency response. “All of the reports indicate this will be a very serious storm and we’re prepared to deliver medicines and other critically needed aid for survivors.”
AmeriCares has been aiding survivors of natural disasters, political conflict and extreme poverty around the world for more than 30 years, saving lives and restoring health and hope. The organization has been delivering aid to the Philippines since 1985. To date, it has delivered $229 million in humanitarian aid to the country including relief supplies for survivors of last month’s deadly earthquake. In the aftermath, AmeriCares worked with partner organizations to distribute water purification tablets, personal hygiene items, baby care products and tarps to approximately 1,200 survivors. Other recent emergency responses include Typhoon Bopha last year, Typhoon Washi in 2011, back-to-back typhoons in 2009 and Typhoon Frank in 2008.
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