080701-N-5961C-011 BALASAN, Philippines (July 1, 2008) Aviation Warfare Systems Operator 2nd Class Anthony Chavez, a native of San Bernardino, Calif., works with a soldier from the Armed forces of the Philippines to move relief supplies to a school on the Panay Island. Chavez is a member of the "Black Knights" of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron (HS) 4 and has been flying humanitarian missions into the island in the wake of Typhoon Fengshen. Chavez is and is deployed aboard the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76). U.S. Navy photo by Senior Chief Mass Communication Specialist Spike Call

USAID June 23, 2008

WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), is providing an initial $100,000 for the purchase of emergency relief supplies, including blankets, mosquito nets, and water containers, to families affected by the typhoon in the Philippines.

On June 20, 2008, Typhoon Frank (Fengshen) passed over the Philippines, with heavy rains and sustained winds of nearly 100 miles per hour (mph) and gusts as high as 108 mph, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration. The Philippine National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) reported that the storm affected more than 470,000 people across 20 provinces, including 320,000 people in the most affected provinces of Iliolo and Capiz in the Western Visayas Region.

According to NDCC, Typhoon Frank has killed 94 people, injured 67 others, destroyed or damaged more than 150,000 homes, flooded approximately 555,987 acres of farmland, and damaged 18.5 tons of agricultural produce. High winds and heavy surf from Typhoon Frank also capsized a ferry boat with 750 people on board. NDCC reported 32 survivors and 4 confirmed deaths from the accident, with the remaining passengers and crew members missing.

USAID is continuing to monitor the situation and stands prepared to provide additional assistance if needed.

080701-N-5961C-014 ILOILO, Philippines (July 1, 2008) Aviation Warfare Systems Operator Slavek Glownia sits among relief supplies in the aft section of an SH-60F Seahawk helicopter assigned to Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron (HS) 4 during a humanitarian mission on the Philippine island of Panay. HS-4 is embarked aboard the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76). The Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group is off the coast of Panay Island providing humanitarian assistance and disaster response in the wake of Typhoon Fengshen. U.S. Navy photo by Senior Chief Mass Communication Specialist Spike Call

U.S. Embassy Manila
June 23, 2008

The United States extends its sympathy to all who have been affected by Typhoon Frank (Fengshen) and its aftermath in the Republic of the Philippines. We deeply regret the loss of life both on land and from the sinking of the ferry, Princess of the Stars.

The U.S. government has offered assistance to the Philippine authorities in carrying out rescue and recovery operations. The U.S Pacific Command has directed the USNS Stockham, with search and rescue helicopters aboard, to proceed to Sibuyan Island to be available to assist with rescue and recovery efforts for the passengers and crew of the Princess of the Stars. We anticipate that the helicopters will be in position to begin operations later today. Additionally, the U.S. Pacific Command has directed a U.S. Navy P-3 maritime surveillance aircraft to proceed to Clark International Airport to join in this effort. It should arrive later today and will be prepared to participate shortly after that.

In addition, the office of Foreign Disaster Assistance of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) will be providing PhP 4 Million ($100,000.00) worth of essential relief goods through the Philippine National Red Cross, for immediate distribution in the most severely affected areas. The United States stands ready to provide any help that we can in the wake of this tragedy.

080701-N-0640K-154 BALASAN, Philippines (July 1, 2008) Aviation Warfare Systems Operator 2nd Class Jeremy Thomas, a native of Warren, Ohio, carries supplies to local citizens of Balasan, Philippines. Thomas is a helicopter crewman with the "Black Knights" of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron (HS) 4 embarked aboard the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) and has been flying missions to the island delivering food and water in the wake of Typhoon Fengshen. The Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group is off the coast of Panay Island providing humanitarian assistance and disaster response in the wake of Typhoon Fengshen. The region was hard-hit by Typhoon Fengshen and the "Black Knights" have been flying seven straight days delivering much needed supplies to remote locations on the island. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jennifer S. Kimball

U.S. Embassy Manila
June 27, 2008

Since its June 25 arrival in the Sulu Sea, the USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier group has supported Philippine disaster relief efforts in the aftermath of Typhoon Frank (Fengshen). In direct coordination with Philippine and provincial government officials, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) and the Philippine National Red Cross, U.S. military personnel are supporting immediate rescue, recovery, and disaster relief efforts being carried out by Philippine authorities.

Said U.S. Ambassador Kristie A. Kenney, “As President Bush said, friends help friends in a time of need and because of the strength of our friendship and partnership, U.S. and Philippine officials on the ground in Iloilo City were able to quickly mobilize a joint disaster relief effort.”

Seven U.S. Navy Seahawk helicopters from USS Ronald Reagan, USS Howard and USS Thach have been working around the clock in partnership with the AFP, the NDCC and provincial government leaders to transport and deliver potable water and food supplies to the hardest hit areas in the Visayan region including the provinces of Iloilo, Aklan, and Antique on Panay Island and the North and South Gigante Islands. Over 28,000 bottles of water, 10,000 pounds of rice, and many other non-perishable food items have been delivered with operations continuing in the coming days. Also, U.S. military engineering teams are working with their Philippine counterparts to restore electrical power in particular at major hospitals in the Iloilo region.

080629-N-4046L-003 PANAY ISLAND, Philippines (June 29, 2008) U.S. Navy aircrewmen assigned to the "Scorpions" of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light (HSL) 49 embarked aboard the San Diego-based guided-missile frigate USS Thach (FFG 46) deliver relief supplies Sunday, June 29, 2008 to victims of Typhoon Fengshen on Panay Island in the Philippines. Thach is assigned to the Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group which is working at the request of the Philippine government to help provide humanitarian assistance and disaster relief to victims of Typhoon Fengshen. U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Scott Lippincott

In addition to the PhP 4 million ($100,000) worth of essential relief goods donated through the Philippine National Red Cross, the office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (ofDA) of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is sending a chartered aircraft to arrive June 29 with relief supplies, worth PhP 28.6 million ($650,000), sufficient for 20,000 beneficiaries.