by Sabrina Salas Matanane

Guam - It's still not clear the extent of damage in the Philippines left from Super Typhoon Haiyan's powerful punch. Winds were clocked at nearly 200 miles per hour, making it one of the strongest storms to ever make landfall. According to NBC News, four people were killed, but many fear that number will climb.

Here at home island leaders are reaching out to the Consulate and Filipino Community of Guam to prepare for disaster relief. In a release from Governor Eddie Baza Calvo he stated "Our darkest hour is when people need us most. Now in their time of need, and during the season of thanksgiving – many of our brothers and sisters in the Philippines will be picking up pieces and rebuilding." Calvo added "The good Lord has spared us from a storm like this for a long time, it's time we pay it forward to help out our loved ones and friends in the Philippines. We are a community built and rebuilt by generosity, and we are willing to lend a helping hand."

Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo meanwhile said her thoughts and prayers are with the Filipinos affected by the super typhoon, "The Philippines is one of our nation's closest allies in the Asia-Pacific region. Many Filipinos on Guam continue to have friends and loved ones in the Philippines. The typhoon is still strong and will likely impact Vietnam in the coming days. I will work with the State Department, the DoD and any other federal agency to ensure that we can support our allies in the Philippines and Vietnam as we did with our allies in Japan following the devastation of the 3/11 tsunami and earthquake."