Through the efforts of the PACC Texas Foundation, local DFW Filipino nonprofits are organizing a donation drive to provide relief to affected families, including food, clean water and hygiene kits. 

The Philippines endured one of its most punishing disaster periods in recent history, as two powerful typhoons struck the archepeligo nation within a week. Together, they caused massive flooding, landslides, infrastructure collapse, widespread displacement, and hundreds of deaths, compounding humanitarian needs across multiple regions already strained by previous disasters.

Typhoon Kalmaegi made landfall first, bringing torrential rain, flash floods, and destructive winds to Cebu and surrounding provinces. Rainfall in some areas exceeded typical monthly averages within just 24 hours, overflowing rivers and inundating communities. Homes were swept away, streets became rivers of mud and debris, and emergency responders struggled to reach affected areas as blocked roads, downed electrical lines, and storm damage cut off access. The Philippine government declared a state of national calamity in response. Kalmaegi left hundreds dead or missing, forced more than half a million people from their homes, knocked out power across several provinces, and caused extensive damage to housing, roads, bridges, and farmland. A tragic military helicopter crash during relief operations highlighted the difficult conditions rescuers faced on the ground.

Before the country could stabilize, Typhoon Fung-wong followed just days later, striking northern Luzon and bringing a second wave of destruction to an already overwhelmed population. With soils saturated and defenses weakened by the previous storm, Fung-wong triggered new rounds of flash floods, extensive landslides, storm surges, and widespread power outages affecting millions. More than a million residents were evacuated before landfall, and hundreds of thousands ended up sheltering in evacuation centers as homes and villages were inundated. Entire communities in mountainous regions were buried under landslide debris, major highways became impassable, and transportation by air and sea was suspended. Economic losses soared into the tens of millions as agriculture, infrastructure, and livelihoods suffered severe damage.

In total, the two typhoons affected millions of families, destroyed thousands of homes, and pushed emergency and humanitarian systems to the breaking point. Relief organizations and government agencies launched large-scale rescue, supply, and recovery missions, but distribution is slowed by damaged roads, power loss, and continued flooding. The twin disasters intensified public concern about climate change, corruption, and the adequacy of flood-control and disaster-readiness systems, particularly as extreme storms become more frequent and more devastating.

Together, Typhoon Kalmaegi and Typhoon Fung-wong underscored the Philippines’ position as the world’s most disaster-vulnerable nation—and the urgent need for resilient infrastructure, strengthened preparedness, and sustained international support as the impacts of climate change escalate