“As the recovery and rebuilding process begins across the Gulf States devastated by Hurricane Katrina, we, in Emergency Management, encourage individuals and organizations, who wish to assist, to contribute wisely towards the recovery efforts,” stated Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency Director Cristine McCombs. “Ironically, donated goods and volunteers that are not specifically needed in a disaster area can hurt more than help. Well-intentioned, but ill-conceived, shipment of goods and volunteers to an area impacted by a disaster can actually cause a ‘secondary disaster’, in spite of the fact that donors really want to help. To that end, we have outlined important guidelines for individuals and organizations to always consider before offering help.”

Consider the following before you donate goods, money or time:

• Financial Contributions Are Preferred.
  Cash donations help to avoid the labor and expense of sorting, packing, transporting and distributing donated goods. Voluntary relief agencies use cash to meet victims’ specific needs more quickly. Many voluntary disaster relief organizations have pre-existing relationships with major providers of disaster materials and supplies, and can leverage extremely good discounts, so donated dollars actually go further than if individuals purchase them. Unsolicited donations can create logistical nightmares for those already warehousing supplies that are needed and a needless expenditure to transport.
• Donate Through Experienced Organizations.
  Be familiar with the organization that you are assisting. Work with voluntary disaster organizations with a known track record. Although relief agencies prefer the versatility of cash donations, some do have the infrastructure in place to store and distribute donated goods. To prevent waste, donated goods should be made only to agencies that have requested specific items.
• Confirm The Need Before Collecting.
  Donors should be wary of anyone who claims that “everything” is needed. Many groups have been disappointed that their efforts and the goods they collected were not appreciated. A community hit by disaster, however, does not have the time, manpower, or money to dispose of unneeded donations. Get precise information before collecting donated goods.
• Volunteer Wisely To Help Others.
  In a community struggling to respond to and recover from a disaster, an influx of unexpected or unneeded volunteers and donations can make the process more difficult. Before traveling to the disaster area to help, learn where and when your skills will be needed. Discuss with volunteer organizers how your needs for food, water, and shelter will be met while you are volunteering.

IMPORTANT DONATION CONTACTS

American Red Cross – 1-800-HELP NOW www.redcross.org

National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NVOAD) – www.nvoad.org

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) – www.fema.gov