Coloradans Worried About Relatives In The Philippines
DENVER (CBS4) - One of the strongest storms in history slammed into the Philippines and the intensity has Coloradans worried about relatives who are visiting or live there.
Typhoon Haiyan smashed into coastal communities southeast of Manila with sustained winds of 195 miles an hour and 20-foot high waves.
The storm cut off communications, making it difficult to know the full extent of the damage or how many people have lost their lives.
Frightening images from her home country prompted Kathy Gietl to close down her food trailer for the day on Friday as she tried to reach her father in the Philippines. So far she's had no luck.
"Pretty concerned I haven't had heard anything from him; just hoping, just an email or a call of something saying he's okay, and the rest of cousins and family are out there too," Gietl said.
On her A Taste of the Philippines food trailer is a map of the Philippines. She pointed out to CBS4's Suzanne McCarroll how close her father was to the center of the storm.
Gietl's family owns a resort in the Philippines and many of her relatives work with her father there.
"I care less about the resort as long as my family, everyone, is okay," she said.
Next week when she reopens her food truck on the 16th Street Mall Gietl will donate part of all proceeds to help her friends and family impacted by the typhoon.
"Any entrees … a dollar of it … is going to go towards our fundraiser."
For now Gietl will continue watching the news coverage and hoping someone in her family will reach her and let her know they are okay.
Part of the problem tracking down relatives is the phones are down and most people are without power so computers aren't an option.
