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Bay Area Filipino Community Begins Relief Efforts For Typhoon Disaster

SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) — Many worried Bay Area residents with family and friends in the Philippines have already started relief efforts as Typhoon Haiyan slammed into the island nation Friday.

The storm—one of the strongest ever recorded with gusts up to 235 mph—caused landslides, knocked out power and cut off communications in the country's central region of island provinces.

On Thursday night, Anthony Navarro and other members of the Filipino Community Center in Daly City gathered to mobilize for disaster relief.

Navarro said he communicated with his relatives in Mindanao using email and Facebook.

PHOTOS: Philippine Typhoon Haiyan

(EDITORS NOTE: Images in this photo gallery contain graphic content)

"They said on Friday, which is right now, it's supposed to hit the hardest so we are just waiting and seeing what the news is," Navarro told KCBS.

Typhoon Haiyan struck as the Philippines is already trying to recover from a magnitude 7.1 earthquake on October 15, which left 99 people dead and nearly 300 injured.

Navarro said that disaster relief has been a constant cycle for them because of all the natural disasters. Medical supplies, clothes and food are needed.

"But right now, our big push is for monetary efforts because we want to give directly to organizations on the ground," he said.

The National Alliance for Filipino Concerns regional chapter based in San Francisco is also calling for monetary donations to help with relief efforts.

Donations will be sent to Visayas Primary Health Care Service, Inc., which is based on the ground in the Visayan region.

Donations for typhoon victims can be made online at http://nafconusa.org/.

Bay Area Filipinos Begin Relief Efforts For Typhoon Disaster

San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee released a statement Friday afternoon after the storm struck the Philippines.

"The people of the Philippines are in our thoughts and prayers today, and we will continue to support them in the days and months ahead as we learn the true impact caused by Typhoon Haiyan," he said in the statement.

The mayor's office is encouraging residents to donate money to assist victims. Information about giving to organizations on the ground and working on recovery efforts is available at http://sfgivesback.org.

(Copyright 2013 by CBS San Francisco and Bay City News Service. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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