A final death toll is likely still days away, but according to some officials, that number could hit 10,000. That's news that has an east Houston couple on edge. Henry and Deloris Davis are waiting for any word on their son, Phillip Burgay.
Burgay, who lives in Baytown, last spoke with his family last Wednesday. He was visiting his girlfriend near Palo, Philippines when the storm hit.
Since then, it's a story of long days and sleepless nights for the Davises.
"Sitting here worried and that's it. You're afraid to leave the house because somebody might call," Deloris Davis said.
They last heard from their son Phillip Burgay on Wednesday.
"We've been on the computer for three days trying to get avenues of communication," Harry Davis said.
Phillip has a house near Palo and was visiting his girlfriend, Ritzchelle, to make arrangements for her and her 10-year-old daughter to return to his Baytown home.
"Tacloban was hit, that's a city that's just north of where they are. It was hit pretty hard but Palo was leveled," Harry Davis said.
Only a trickle of assistance has made it to the survivors with the USS George Washington, part of US relief on the way. For the Davises, relief can come with just a phone call.
"We have hope because Phil is the kind of person, who in dire situations, he would be helping people and that's what we think is what will happen," Harry Davis said.
The family has made contact with the state department and other organizations that have people on the ground there.
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