When Overnight Construction employee Jasen DeLeon first heard that his family home in the Philippines had been destroyed by Typhoon Ketsana, he thought it was a joke.

"I was aware there was a storm coming in Manila, but never in my 30 years did I imagine that our house would be underwater nor would reach its upper level," Mr. DeLeon said.

Mr. DeLeon's house in Manila was one of 1.9 million homes flooded out by Typhoon Ketsana.

The typhoon hit on September 26 with 104 mile per hour winds with gusts up to 200 miles per hour, the equivalent of a category two hurricane.

The worst damage of the storm came from flash floods that brought the equivalent of a month's rain in 12 hours. It was the worst flooding in the Philippines in 40 years.

"I received a text message Saturday morning from my brother in the Philippines informing me that the second floor of our house had been submerged in flood," said Mr. DeLeon.

Later, in a telephone call, his shaken brother told him how early Saturday the family was moving valuables upstairs, when they noticed the water starting to enter the house.

"As they watched the water started to rise so fast that they needed to leave our place otherwise they would be trapped inside," Mr. DeLeon said. "They rushed immediately to my aunt's place, a few blocks from our house, which has a higher ground than our place.

"They were carrying only a few things they were able to grab. As I talked to my mom on the phone, she was crying and worried. She was worried that the rain wouldn't stop and that the dark night would engulf them."

The flood waters were already knee high at his aunt's house.

"They didn't have enough water and food to eat nor electricity to prepare food. All they did was pray."

They lived on biscuits and small amounts of water.

"The aftermath was devastating," said Mr. DeLeon. "Our old house was covered with mud. The roof and ceiling shows signs of falling anytime.

"Appliances and furniture was soaked underwater and can no longer be used. Food and water are scarce. There is nowhere to buy it.

"My parents spent years, with their blood and sweat, building our house, and now it is gone overnight. But thank God they are all safe."

There are 246 known people killed by the storm in the Philippines, plus millions of dollars in damage.

Areas worst affected in the Philippines were central Luzon, but most severely in capital city Metro Manila, and the cities of Pasig, Muntinlupa, Quezon City, Marikina, Novaliches and the municipalities of Cainta and San Mateo.

Filipina Severina Saliba is a member of local charity Answering the Cry of the Poor (ANCOP) Bermuda, which normally raises money to build homes for poverty stricken people in the Philippines. She was at an airport in Manila when the typhoon struck.

She normally lives in Bermuda and works at Eve Cycles Ltd.

"We were stranded at the Manila airport for eight hours with no electricity and no water and not enough food," said Ms Saliba. "You can imagine how inconvenient and frustrating it was for many thousands of passengers like us — anxiously waiting to be boarded.

"We were worried about missing our connecting flights, while at the same time we were worried about the families we left behind.

"But what we had experienced on that Saturday at the airport is totally incomparable to what the typhoon victims have suffered and endured.

"I really feel for the young and the old victims, especially those who lost their homes, who lost their lives or are still missing. My love and prayers for all of them."

Luckily, her family were all safe, but her heart went out to the victims, she said.

Several local charities are coming to the assistance of victims of the typhoon, which also caused devastation in Vietnam and Cambodia.

The Philippine government and the Philippine National Disaster Coordinating Center, has already mobilised rescue and relief operations.

In Bermuda, several charities are sending out urgent appeals including The Bermuda Red Cross, ANCOP, and Roman Catholic charity, Couples for Christ (CFC).

"The government can only do so much and so many people have not been reached by relief efforts," said ANCOP president Evelou Mosley. "Many people are still hungry and have lost even their basic necessities.

"We hope that the Bermuda public will join us in this massive effort. Please tell all your relatives and friends to also help. This is our call now to be truly brothers and sisters to those who need us. May God bless us all during these difficult times."

The Bermuda Red Cross officially launched an appeal for funds for relief efforts on Tuesday.

"The Red Cross is not allowed to launch an appeal until the affected country asks for help," said Ann Spencer-Arscott, director of the Bermuda Red Cross. "Sometimes this can take a few days."

She said in Southeast Asia 75,000 people displaced by the storm are now being sheltered and fed by the Red Cross.

"Almost as soon as the storm stopped, some volunteers from the Red Cross were out there rescuing people from high walls and roofs," said Ms Spencer-Arscott.

Since the storm hit, many Filipinos living in Bermuda have telephoned the Bermuda Red Cross headquarters on Berry Hill Road.

"We have a large Filipino community here, and they have always been very supportive of other appeals we have run," she said. "They were particularly helpful with the tsunami appeal in 2004."

She said she felt good to be part of an organisation that responded to people in crisis.

"You do get that warm and fuzzy feeling," she said.

At first, money raised by the Bermuda Red Cross will go to helping with food and supplies in the shelters.

"Depending on how much is raised, in the long term it will go to helping people get back on their feet," said Mrs. Spencer-Arscott.

To donate money to the Bermuda Red Cross deposit money to account numbers: HSBC Bank of Bermuda 010-187417-013, Butterfield Bank 20-006-060-365472-100 or Capital G Bank Limited 4010035760. Alternatively telephone 236-8253 or E-mail redcross@logic.bm.

To make a cash donation to ANCOP or CFC, contact Mrs. Mosley on 799-6659, Cathy Visaya on 505-2527, Marife Bacasno on 533-1003 or send an E-mail, ancopbermuda@logic.bm.

To make a deposit, the charity's HSBC Bank of Bermuda account number is 010-758373-001.

Please donate in Bermuda currency, and indicate this is for 'ANCOP CFC Ketsana Relief Assistance'.

For more information about ANCOP or the CFC go to www.ancopbermuda.com or www.cfcbermuda.com.