Governor Inslee issued this statement today:
“On behalf of all Washingtonians, I extend a hand of compassion and friendship to the people of the Philippines in the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan. The tragic loss of life and widespread property destruction from this storm has affected the lives of countless individuals around the world, and we grieve with those who have lost family or friends.
“The contributions of the Filipino community helped build Washington state, and have made us stronger both culturally and economically. Now we have an opportunity to stand together with the people of the Philippines and support them during this time of dire need.
“There are various organizations doing great work providing critical aid and assistance to the victims of this tragedy, and I encourage Washingtonians to give as they are able in support of these humanitarian efforts. With help from the global community, the people of the Philippines will get through these extremely difficult times.”
Sofia Aragon, a first generation Filipino-American with family near the disaster area and Chair of the Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs issued the following statement:
“There are more than 90,000 Filipino Americans residing in Washington, this natural disaster affects countless members of our community. A heartfelt thank you to those working to raise funds, collect donated goods, and provide direct aid to survivors of Typhoon Haiyan, including the US military, the Filipino communities of Seattle, Yakima, and South Puget Sound, the Filipino Lawyers of Washington, the American Federation of Teachers, the WA State Nurses Association, and many others.”
A list of organizations helping with relief efforts in the Philippines is located on the Governor’s website.