Local Resources

"All politics is local" - Tip O'Neill, US Congressmen

There is a recent article with a controversial title, The case against disaster relief. It cites a conclusion from a report by the Disease Control Priorities Project:

The immediate lifesaving response time is much shorter than humanitarian organizations recognize. In a matter of weeks, if not days, the concerns of both the population and authorities shift from search and rescue and trauma care to the rehabilitation of infrastructure (temporary restoration of basic services and reconstruction). In Banda Aceh, Indonesia, after the December 2004 tsunami, victims were eager to return to normalcy while external medical relief workers were still arriving in large numbers.

People mean well and want to help after emergencies. However most offers of help are rejected or arrive too late. Fresh food donated is tossed out - who knows if some joker wants fame by poisoning rescue workers? Supplies are given in huge quantities but no one has the trucks and logistical support to ship them where they are needed. Volunteers offer help at disaster scenes but most are turned away - perhaps they are really looters trying to get inside?

If you really want to help consider the following:

1. Register now with Red Cross or CERT.
You'll need to get a Red Cross or CERT photo ID, volunteer to help, receive training, and wait to be called for service.

2. Never just show up and demand to help.
Some exceptions - medical, police, fire staff (with ID).

3. Call the Red Cross, United Way, your church
Find out what they are collecting, don't just assume they want socks or dolls.

BOTTOM LINE
The best help during an emergency is local help. They know the area, the people and are already on site or near. Do all that you can to support local disaster teams versus the less efficient and costly outside rescue teams.