S.Fla. Local Ready To Help Typhoon Haiyan Victims In Philippines
MIAMI (CBSMiami) -- There are more than 9,000 miles between Miami and the Philippines, but there are a number of people in South Florida with ties to the Asian islands. Those people are both concerned for their loved ones and ready to help.
"I think the only way for me to describe it is that it's worse than what I saw of Sandy, Katrina, and it almost looks like the tsunami that hit in Southeast Asia years ago, it's decimated," said Daniela Foley who lives in Miami but was born and raised in the Philippines.
These are images of how people in the Philippines started their weekend. Typhoon Haiyan brought devastation and destruction to millions of people, killing as many as 10,000, leveling communities, and ripping through an untold number of homes.
Foley told CBS4's Jamie Guirola, "I talked to them the day before the storm hit. The storm hit and we didn't speak to them until the evening the storm passed through the island."
Foley's parents live, work, and run a foundation in the Philippines where the nasty and deadly storm made landfall. She was lucky enough to hear from them since the storm hit the islands. Her parents sent a text telling her everything was alright and they were okay.
Relieved her parents are okay, Foley is worried about her employees. In Miami, she owns Pearl Dragon, a wholesale business that manufactures home accessories handmade in the Philippines. She hasn't heard anything from her workers or the factories.
"We are also accepting donations here that we will try and make sure get to some of the hardest areas hit in that country," said Foley.
Now she's using her business and working with her father's foundation to help out with relief efforts for the people hit hardest.
"We have received a tremendous outpouring of support from our customers asking if there's anything they can do," said Foley.
The Red Cross also has crews on the ground and says the best way to help is by taking out your wallet.
"The best way to help, because of the sheer distance between here and the Philippines is to make a financial contribution to the American Red Cross earmarked for typhoon relief," said Hugh Quinn with the American Red Cross.
So far, neither Miami nor Miami-Dade Fire Rescue have been called or placed on standby to render assistance.
Some people consider typhoon Haiyan worse than Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans and Hurricane Andrew in South Florida 21 years ago.
You can help by visiting www.redcross.org or through Foley's family foundation at www.aboitizfoundation.org. You can also call the Red Cross at 1-800-HELP-NOW.
