Massive floods from Typhoon Carina force families to flee their homes

Tropical cyclone Carina raked by the Philippines on Wednesday, July 24, causing massive floodwaters and rain-induced landslides that have disrupted the lives of more than 770,000 people, including over 2,500 individuals from the Unbound community.

Typhoon Carina (internationally known as Gaemi) was upgraded to a super typhoon Wednesday afternoon as it barreled toward Taiwan. Carina made landfall in northeastern Taiwan early on Thursday.

Maximum sustained winds were measured at 230 kph (145 mph), the equivalent of a Category 4 hurricane in the Atlantic. According to CNN, Carina has forced the closure of schools and government offices in the Philippines as heavy rains hit the Manila capital region and the main island of Luzon. Flights have been canceled and the Philippines Stock Exchange ceased trading on Wednesday.

Combined staff reports from Unbound’s programs in Manila, Quezon and Antipolo estimated 2,515 sponsored families and 13 staff members have been impacted, with floodwaters stranding some individuals while requiring others to evacuate their homes in search of higher ground. Mudslides in some areas have made it difficult for affected families to salvage their belongings.

Tristan John Cabrera, regional reporter for Unbound in the Philippines, said many main roads have become impassable except for rescue boats. Members of Cabrera’s own family have been impacted by heavy rainfall that has been constant over a three-day period.

“Water from rivers has already reached its maximum level, forcing a huge number of people to evacuate their homes and communities to seek the safety of higher ground,” said Cabrera, whose own father was stranded at a gas station due to quick rising floodwater. “Even flood walls built by our local government haven’t been able to stop the waters from entering the homes of people in communities where a significant number of sponsored families are living.”

How Unbound is responding to the immediate need

Local Unbound staff have had difficulty reaching the homes of many sponsored families to conduct rapid assessments. Unbound Regional Director Malou Navio said staff are being assisted by members of ERPAT, which stands for Empowerment and Reaffirmation of Paternal Abilities. ERPAT members have formed disaster response groups made up of the fathers of sponsored children.

Unbound Manila program staff member Carmen Vicente reported that two staff members and more than 1,800 families have been impacted by deep flooding, including 340 whose homes are now submerged in waters above head level. Over 1,300 families have been forced to evacuate their homes.

Unbound Antipolo Project Coordinator Julius Manolong reported that, so far, 319 sponsored families had been impacted, with 31 families forced to abandon their homes.

“As of the moment, we are packing bags of goods [basic necessities] to help meet the immediate needs of the families that we’ve been able to reach as the floodwaters have subsided,” Manolong said.

In Unbound’s Quezon program, the homes of 314 sponsored families were submerged in waters at neck level. Eleven program staff members and their families had to evacuate their homes.

Besides damage and destruction to homes, some families are having trouble accessing clean water, while others have seen their livelihoods destroyed.

According to Navio, program offices are providing families with immediate food relief kits that include rice, noodles and sardines. Community leaders in areas not affected by the flooding will be preparing and serving hot meals to impacted families.

Cabrera said that the resiliency of the Filipino people during times of natural disaster will always prevail because they are committed to helping one another.

“Unbound staff are committed to assessing the extent of damage per family and will provide them with the support that they need, especially for those who have lost their homes,” Cabrera said.

What you can do to help families affected by disasters

Typhoon Carina has only enhanced the southwest monsoon that had already been impacting the Philippines, according to the Philippines Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA). The monsoon is expected to continue triggering moderate to intense rainfall over various parts of western Luzon until at least Friday, July 26. The typhoon’s final landfall is expected to be over southeastern China.

As reports continue to come in from the field, Unbound is currently assessing the full extent of the needs of those families impacted most by Carina. Here are steps you can take to help immediately.

• • Make sure your contact information is current. In times of natural disaster, Unbound notifies sponsors personally if we learn that their sponsored friends have been injured or otherwise seriously impacted, so keeping your information updated is important.


• • Pray. The Unbound community holds all those affected and those assisting with relief efforts in our thoughts and prayers.


• • Donate to the Critical Needs Fund. The fund assists families in the aftermath of events such as floods, severe storms, earthquakes and fires.

Unbound Regional Reporter Tristan John Cabrera and other staff in the Philippines contributed information and photos for this story.