Typhoon heartbreak

The typhoon that hit the Philippines is one of the greatest natural disasters we've seen in a while.

It brings back memories of the 2011 tsunami that hit Japan and killed 19,000 people; a year earlier more than 200,000 people were killed in an earthquake that hit Haiti.

The death totals from the more recent typhoon are mounting. Early estimates were it could have left 10,000 or more dead. As of Thursday evening, more than 2,300 were confirmed dead as mass burials were being conducted. So many more people were left homeless and hungry.

The scenes and reports from the Philippines have been heartbreaking. And we know some in our region have relatives and loved ones who have suffered losses or are even missing. Our hearts go out to them.

There are many organizations collecting donations for support to the Filipinos, not the least of which is the American Red Cross.

Our prayers go out to the thousands of displaced victims who have lost family members and are in need of food and shelter.