Disasters like the flooding that has followed Hurricane Harvey and now Irma, displacing thousands of people, always create a tremendous need for help — and a tremendous desire to provide that help. The following are a few ways and sound suggestions for doing so.
After a disaster, many generous people want to volunteer their services or donate money or goods. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provides information and tips on volunteering and donating responsibly after a natural disaster.
Do not just "show up" to volunteer assistance. This actually makes things harder for responders. The following groups and organizations provide information on helping survivors of natural disasters:
- American Red Cross
- AmeriCorps (Corporation for National and Community Service)
- National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NVOAD)
- Salvation Army
- Serve.gov
"This is not the time to be donating products or even services," he says. "That's frequently the urge, and most often that is the wrong thing to do. ...With the floods blocking off streets, when warehouses are not available, there's no place for these products — there's no place to store anything, there's no place to distribute anything. And that's going to be the case for some time."
Instead, he says, people should give money to groups they trust, and that have the ability to provide aid where it's needed most. A financial contribution to a recognized disaster relief organization is the most effective donation to make. There are several advantages to making monetary donations. They are the most needed and most efficient way of helping those impacted by disaster. This allows voluntary organizations to fund response and recovery efforts, obtain goods and services locally, and provide direct financial assistance to disaster survivors to meet their own needs. You can make a donation to an organization of your choice.
Hurricane Harvey: How To Help
Care2.com offers an extensive resource list on various ways you can help including:
Helping Humans
Organizations that offer assistance to those in need of food and more.
Hurricane Harvey: How To Help
Care2.com offers an extensive resource list on various ways you can help including:
Helping Humans
Organizations that offer assistance to those in need of food and more.
Groups that aid children, women, immigrants and other marginalized groups.
Helping Animals
Charities focused on rescuing and caring for pets and wildlife impacted by Hurricane Harvey.
Helping the Environment
Organizations that target the environmental toll of the hurricane.
Helping Without Cash
Ways you can help with your time, voice, and various methods of support.
Visit their site at: http://www.care2.com/causes/how-to-help-hurricane-harvey-victims.html
Hurricane Irma: How To Help
This article posted by NBC lists some of the organizations providing urgent relief and essential services.
Feel free to leave other ways to help in the comments.
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