December 1, 2005

Stay informed, stay involved: how you can help during an emergency

It's hard to shake some of the images we've seen lately. People devastated after losing their families, homes and jobs to hurricanes. Children left homeless and alone after their parents perished in the storms. Pictures of a crisis...compelling us to get involved and help. Disasters are relatively unpredictable, making them complicated to both prepare for and cope with when they happen. As we all scramble in the aftermath to be a part of the solution, it is important we understand the system of response and the timeline that drives it. It's also important we understand the role each citizen can play, capitalizing on our own strengths and finding ways to offer help.

Disasters in other parts of the state or country can indirectly affect the Twin Cities area. The flooding of the Red River in '97, the tragedy of September 11th, and most recently the hurricanes have all had local impact. Roughly 1,800 families have made their way to Minnesota from the Gulf region. That's more than 5,000 hurricane evacuees who are now here rebuilding their lives. They are staying with relatives, in shelters and in other temporary housing. Families are getting help initially from the American Red Cross and Salvation Army, but accessing FEMA benefits takes longer than we might think, as many victims apply without identification, having left it behind during the hurricane evacuation. Those who are poor or vulnerable are disproportionately affected by disasters and thereby more reliant on nonprofits for help. With no fluid cash or network of family support to turn to, they have additional needs following a disaster.

Greater Twin Cities United Way assisted in local hurricane relief efforts by helping assess what the evacuees would need to restart their lives here in Minnesota and by supporting the efforts of the nonprofits involved in the recovery and rebuilding stages. United Way allocated $300,000 to help create and support the infrastructure that is ensuring families have food, clothing, shelter and the ongoing services they need- like financial and crisis counseling.

Information coordination and communication is critical for those affected by a disaster, as well as by volunteers and donors. United Way's information and referral hotline, United Way 2-1-1™ played a vital role immediately following the hurricanes. United Way 2-1-1™ is a free, confidential service that people can access 24-hours a day to find the social services they need. In the three weeks following Hurricane Katrina, 2-1-1 took more than 20,000 calls above and beyond its normal call-load, many of the calls from people looking for ways to help with hurricane relief efforts.

How can you help in the days, weeks and months following a disaster? Our immediate reaction to a crisis is to want to help, so many of us approach the Red Cross or other organizations to find out how we can volunteer. Yet for most disaster relief volunteer roles there is a training process for volunteers, and it is nearly impossible for the organizations to ready people to respond to a crisis already happening. Here's what you can do:

  • Give money to a trusted nonprofit helping with disaster response and recovery. Disaster response organizations continue to say cash is the best gift, rather than collecting food, water and supplies to donate. Collections of donated items require valuable and scarce resources such as time, money, and personnel to sort,clean, and distribute them, which come at the expense of the emergency activities relief workers are attempting to perform. In particular, avoid donating used clothing. Used clothing can be donated year-round to local nonprofits. Call 2-1-1 (651-291-0211 from a cell phone) to find out where to donate used clothing in your area.
  • Stay informed. Seek volunteer opportunities. Join your local place of worship or neighborhood service groups. Serve on a board of a nonprofit or volunteer at local nonprofits that assist vulnerable people at times of crisis and year-round. For group volunteering options check out United Way's Caring Connection program at www.unitedwaytwincities.org/caringconnection.
  • At home, be prepared with a family communication plan. Make sure you have some basic supplies like water and nonperishable food. Ask your employer to see if your company has its own disaster plan.
  • Sign up to be a trained disaster response volunteer through the Red Cross, Salvation Army or other relief organizations. You may not be trained in time to help for this crisis, but you will be prepared for the next disaster.
  • Hold elected officials and units of government, as well as the nonprofit sector accountable for having sound plans and making sure there is money to support those plans.

It's all about being proactive and not waiting for a crisis to happen before deciding to make a difference. Your community needs you now. Come join us and help ensure Minnesota remains a wonderful place to live.

By Frank Forsberg
Vice President of Community Impact
Greater Twin Cities United Way

Posted by Victoria Ford at December 1, 2005 1:28 PM