Typhoon Mangkhut slammed the Philippines, Hong Kong and southern China over the weekend.

The world’s most powerful storm this year, so far, reached sustained winds comparable to a Category Five hurricane.

The Philippines were hit hardest by the storm, with dozens of people buried alive by resulting landslides.

On the island of Luzon, a group of miners and their families believed they would be out of harm’s way hiding inside a chapel. When the storm peaked, there was no time for anyone to escape the avalanche. Hundreds of rescuers including police and soldiers are already digging through thick mud in search of the missing miners.

In the aftermath of the landslide, officials say that mines tunneled by unauthorized independent miners and big companies alike have made the hillside unstable. The Philippines’ Environmental Secretary Roy Cimatu announced the government’s plans to deploy soldiers and police to end illegal mining in six mountainous provinces to prevent future tragedies.

The Hong Kong Observatory designated Mangkhut as the most powerful storm to hit the area since 1979. The city is currently facing wind damage, rapid flooding and a crippled transportation system.

The storm later downgraded to a tropical depression as it moved across southern China’s coast. The typhoon struck Asia as Hurricane Florence caused catastrophic flooding in parts of the Carolinas in the United States.

Heavy rain and floodwaters brought on by the Category Four storm have led to at least 24 deaths in North and South Carolina.

An economic consulting firm estimates that Hurricane Florence may result in $17 billion to $22 billion lost in economic output and property damage. This estimation places Florence among the top 10 costliest hurricanes to hit the U.S.

As hurricane weather overwhelms the American east coast, dry and windy weather continues to cause issues out west.

Several new wildfires have started in remote areas of western Wyoming over the past week, prompting hunters and campers alike to evacuate the area.

In Utah, two wildfires threaten to keep thousands of evacuees displaced from their homes for weeks.

While the growing number of wildfires in the U.S. is highly concerning, a recent study published by GeoHealth suggests the smoke from these fires could be just as deadly.

Within the next 100 years, the study predicts that U.S. deaths from chronic inhalation of wildfire smoke could double from 15,000 to 42,000 deaths per year.

The intention behind listing out all these tragedies is not to upset people, but to inform people that these natural disasters happened over the course of one week.

However, the repairs and recovery necessary to effectively respond to the damages incurred over the past week will take months, even years.

Rebuilding efforts are not just a short term project that occurs when a storm first hits. These efforts will continue to need funds and volunteers to help restore the quality of life to those impacted by the disasters. If you are unable to volunteer right now, you haven’t missed your only chance to help.

Do your own research and follow up on stories you see in the media.

It may surprise you how many restoration organizations are still recruiting volunteers months after a tragedy.

It’s important to acknowledge and remember that recovery takes a long time, even though media coverage of a tragedy wanes.