Tons Of Supplies Prepped As Typhoon Bears Down On Philippines

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — About 85 tons of rice, canned sardines, noodles, blankets and mosquito nets will be delivered to the northern Philippines as the nation braces for Typhoon Lupit (loo-PEET').

The storm — named after a Filipino word for cruel — is barreling through the Pacific with winds topping 100 mph. Forecasters say it will likely spare storm-wracked Manila, but could slam into other parts of the north in about three days.

The Philippines is still struggling after back-to-back storms killed more than 800 people and inundated the homes of more than 7 million. Hundreds are still in emergency shelters.

With the 18th tropical storm this year bearing down on the nation, Philippine military and U.N. helicopters are on standby and officials have been authorized to evacuate people from disaster-prone villages.

 Evacuees rest inside a tent at an evacuation center in the Marikina Sports Park, east of Manila, Philippines, on Sunday Oct. 18, 2009. Disaster-response agencies packed tons of food aid, readied a helicopter and prepared a massive evacuation plan in the country's mountainous north as another typhoon threatened the country after back-to-back storms killed more than 750 people.

A Filipino family stays at an evacuation center at the Marikina Sports Park, east of Manila, Philippines, on Sunday Oct. 18, 2009. Disaster-response agencies packed tons of food aid, readied a helicopter and prepared a massive evacuation plan in the country's mountainous north as another typhoon threatened the country after back-to-back storms killed more than 750 people.