Philippines

On November 3rd a devastating Typhoon hit the Philippines. Typhoon Haiyan's death toll is feared to be over 10,000, it is one of the most powerful hurricanes known to ever hit earth. It was followed by 30 foot storm surges and major flooding, a huge issue in a tropical climate.  The hope is is to prevent what happened in Haiti, the deadly cholera outbreak following the 2010 earthquake, from repeating itself. Allowing water to sit in a hot humid climate is sure to result in disease.  I believe that the first step to prevent disease and a greater death toll is to get the people clean water, food and shelter. Many charity's are already working on this. Many more are using this as a way to make money. Charities are the best way to provide relief as long as you do your research and make sure the charity you are donating to knows what they are doing and plan to use 100% of your money on relief efforts.  Charity Navigator is a good place to look for what charities are supporting issues you would like to help with. Three charities who are giving 100% of donations to help in the Phillippines are Action Against Hunger- ACF USA: a charity committed to ending hunger and malnutrition, American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee: they have many partners including UNICEF and are bringing water, food, shelter, and medicine to everyone they can, and Architecture for Humanity: a charity that works on designing and reconstructing areas that have experienced disaster.  The foremost concern for charities is going to be how to get these people clean drinking water. My idea is to set up multiple water filteration centers around the areas where people do not have available drinking water. They would be able to go there to fill up water jugs each day and take a shower every once in a while in disease free water.
Source- http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=3268#.UolTjMu9KK0