Typhoon Haiyan hits home for Calgarians
As many as 10,000 believed dead in disaster
Filipinos in Calgary are concerned for their families after officials estimated as many as 10, 000 people were killed when Typhoon Haiyan hit the islands Friday.
Hundreds of thousands have been made homeless and power is down across much of the affected area in southeast Asia. The disaster weighing heavily on the minds of many in Calgary's Filipino community.
"I cannot even talk to my two sisters," said Maria Oranchuok at the Calgary Filipino Market in the southwest. "I'm really worried about them. It's very sad and very worrisome."
In Calgary, Christian humanitarian organization Samaritan's Purse is putting together 3,000 hygiene kits for typhoon victims.
Most airports in the region are shut down, so the organization is hoping to fly the supplies into devastated areas using a helicopter.
Communications director Jeff Adams couldn't believe it when he heard about the devastation.
"What went through my mind was, 'Not again,'" said Adams.
"We've just gone through an incredibly busy summer with the response we've been involved in in southern Alberta and our responses before that in so many different places like Haiti."
Adams said he hopes Albertans will remember their own time of need not so long ago.