Where is help most needed?

Sep 10, 2005 12:15

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Comments 6

beginning September 10 2005, 17:25:16 UTC
Most people who are travelling down are trained volunteers and workers for the major relief organizations. There's a concern now among relief agencies that the number of "disaster tourists" - people without training who mean well and just show up to pitch in - are getting in the way when it comes to the relief effort. Even many firefighters are reporting that once they get down there, they can't actually get to the areas in need because they more or less went on their own and didn't preplan anything with the agencies already in the area.

If you want to go down there, I recommend contacting one of the established relief organizations and asking how you can best help them out. This is especially true if you have any special training when it comes to disaster relief.

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beginning September 10 2005, 17:26:13 UTC
Additionally, there's lots of work you can do at home to help out. Run a drive, work with your local Second Harvest affiliate, get in touch with your state and/or local government to find out what they're doing, etc.

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dikayasobaka September 10 2005, 17:31:51 UTC
That is certainly correct. However, it is alos important not to let that go to waste by allowing it is be subsumed by FEMA or any such useless organization, public or private.

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dikayasobaka September 10 2005, 17:30:37 UTC
I don't have any specialized training, no. I am partly a free-lace journalist and I wanted to not only help but also report on what goes on down there.

> If you want to go down there, I recommend contacting one of the established relief organizations and asking how you can best help them out.

I wish your established notion were 100% aplicable here. What you are saying certainly does refer to how things ought to be. However, the way they are it may be that a small, largely unknown group would likely turn out to be more effective than a large established organization...

I am currently in touch with these people and might join them if they think it is a good idea.

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dreamingkat September 11 2005, 06:17:49 UTC
I would personally suggest that if your going to try to help out, that you make contact with someone in a smallish town and find out what they need.

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dikayasobaka September 11 2005, 11:40:16 UTC
Done precisely that:)
May see them Wednesday if I finally decide to drvie down there.

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