Church Responds to Flooding in the Philippines
October 1, 2009
Tropical storm Ketsana struck the Philippines on Saturday, 26 September 2009, triggering the heaviest rainfall in 40 years and causing significant flooding.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is providing food, water, clothing, hygiene items and other relief supplies, which are being purchased locally and distributed to those in the affected region. Local Church members and missionaries are assisting with clean-up efforts. Church members in nonaffected areas of the Philippines are mobilizing to donate clothing and bedding as Church leaders continue to monitor the situation.
Of the hundreds of confirmed fatalities, 12 Church members have been reported dead, while 14 others are still missing, according to the most recent information.* The total number of members affected by the flooding is still being assessed; however, all Church missionaries are safe and accounted for.
Fifteen Church meetinghouses have suffered water damage, with others still to be assessed.
*Initial reports using the best information available given the circumstances indicated that 24 Church members had been killed. This is an update as of 30 September.
