The reports of just 3 dead on Friday night were wistful.

There are now reports of at least 138 , with Philippines officials saying they  expecting that number to climb into “the hundreds.”

Philippine Inquirer.Net is reporting a people finder service:

Looking for your loved ones who are in areas devastated by Supertyphoon “Yolanda”?

The Philippine Red Cross has launched Social Services Restoring Family Links and Tracing Services.

“If you are looking for a family or friend, contact our Social Services Restoring Family Links and Tracing Services, please call 09175328500,” the PNRC said.

Google, meanwhile, is offering its Person Finder service.

It also has a mobile phone version.

“You can request status via SMS by sending an SMS to +16508003977 with the message Search person-name. For example, if you are searching for Joshua, send the message Search Joshua,” said Google.

Read more: http://technology.inquirer.net/31465/red-cross-google-launch-person-finder-services#ixzz2kAkZnfLh

Manila may have been spared, but the devestation appears to be great around the central part of the Philippines, particularly Leyte and Samar.

Leyte was the WWII  battle we celebrated last month, the one that  liberated the Philippines. If it survived WWII, It will  survive the typhoon. But it will take time and help from around the world.

When the typhoon was first reported on Thursday, friends of mine asked me if I had relatives in the Philippines.

I told them as a Filipino American, I’m related to everyone there.

 

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