Volunteering in response to a disaster
10:25, 14 January 2010
.. Posted in Development, Relief and Advocacy Efforts.. Link
Whenever a disaster strikes, hundreds -- even thousands -- of citizens in the USA start contacting various organizations in an effort to try to volunteer onsite at the disaster site. The images and stories motivate these people to help immediately, in-person.
But what most of these people don't realize is that spontaneous volunteers with no training and no affiliation can actually cause more problems than they alleviate in a disaster situation, particularly regarding disaster locations far from their home. The priority in these situations is helping the people affected by the disaster, NOT giving spontaneous, unaffiliated volunteers an outlet for their desire to help.
During and after disasters, what's desperately needed is equipment, supplies and expertise in disaster situations -- that's the priority. These are incredibly complicated situations that require people with a very high degree of qualifications and long-term commitment, not just good will, a sense of urgency and short-term availability. Unless you have a formal affiliation with a recognized disaster relief organization, and training with that organization, you are probably going to be turned away if you want to help onsite, particularly in other countries.
If you have been moved by a disaster to help in some way immediately, please consider donating financially. Money is desperately needed in these situations to purchase food, up-to-date medicine, shelter, transportation, and supplies. Disaster relief organizations cannot rely only on donations of these materials, and don't have the resources in a crisis situation to go through them and make sure they are appropriate, clean, not expired, etc.; having finances means they can buy what they need, often in-country, and move much more quickly -- and time is of the essence in these situations.
In addition to giving funds yourself, you can help by making sure friends and associates know how to give (you might be surprised how many people don't know where or how to). A simple link on your own site or blog, a link at the end of your emails, an update on your status on FaceBook or MySpace or whatever, telling people how to donate financially, can be a huge help.
If you REALLY want to make a difference for the desperate situation in Haiti right now, please make a financial donation to MercyCorps or the American Red Cross. These orgs know how to work quickly in chaos zones, but these efforts (up-to-date medicines, supply planes, fuel, etc.) are *crazy expensive*. Please, no clothing drives or food drives -- it's CASH that will pay for the things people need right now. Update your online profiles/status pages to encourage your friends to do the same.
If you want to truly help with a disaster beyond financial donations, start thinking NOW about ways to get the training and affiliations you need to do such effectively for future emergency situations. There are many ways you can put yourself into a position for such in the future. Here's why you need such training, and ways to get it:.
