Giving Gifts that Help and Not Hinder after Disaster

This post originally was published on March 7, 2019, on the ICTG blog.

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One of the greatest challenges after any major disaster is providing effective help as quickly as possible. Too often, though, this effort becomes greatly hindered by an onslaught of donated materials or well-meaning people interjecting themselves without paying attention to the directions of local or experienced 1st and 2nd responders. “Disasters within disasters” is the label often given to the logistical mess of coordinating storage and processing of all the things and finding housing for the unaffiliated volunteers and tracking their credentials or affiliations only detracts from the actual needs and ability of the local leadership and the disaster relief agencies that are encouraging local response.

Above: "Tens of thousands of stuffed animals, donated to the children of Newtown, Conn., following the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, fill a warehouse. Most were sent away." - Best Intentions: When Disaster Relief Brings Anything But Relief

How can you avoid hindering disaster response, and making sure your effort to help makes the helpful difference you want it to make, rather than another mini-disaster? 
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Begin by listening carefully to what survivors most directly impacted by disaster and local responders with first hand knowledge say they need. Often, local agencies will begin posting specific needs on their websites or other social media outlets. ​

Above:  "Thousands of food and clothing items are organized by Occupy Sandy volunteers in a school gymnasium in Rockaway Park, Queens, after Superstorm Sandy in November."  - The Second Disaster: Making Well-Intentioned Donations Useful

If you are not in a position to find out specific information from survivors and local responders, here are additional ways to make sure your contribution provides the most help:

• Make a financial contribution to trusted organizations who are working with survivors. These are the most helpful ways of contributing, and will ensure your contribution is used in ways survivors feel is most helpful. This may include providing financial gifts to 1st responder organizations, 2nd responder organizations (like local counseling centers, social service agencies, or congregations), local long-term recovery groups, or larger national organizations, including ICTG, with expertise in disaster response. 
  
• Consider providing local care where you are, as well. If you are far away from the location of a disaster, many people often do not realize how very much there is to do right in their own backyard. For example, if you are heartbroken for what has occurred far away, chances are that your neighbor is too. Extending local care, in honor of those hurting far away, can produce ripple effects of healing, and can avoid creating mini-disasters in disaster zones. Volunteering can be a helpful form of response when you cannot give financially.
  
• Volunteer. If you are someone who feels strongly about giving to or going to a disaster zone, please consider joining a reputable disaster relief agency. By working through these organizations you will save yourself and those on the ground a great deal of extra, unnecessary, work.  
  
• Educate others. Education helps people prepare well for the next event that may occur in closer proximity. Education also helps squelch rumors.  Providing forums for learning about mental health, natural storms, and effects of violence on persons and communities, as well as common law enforcement, emergency response best practices, insurance practices after disaster, and social work practices, can all help to diminish speculation and inform persons about next steps. For example, hosting two or three town-hall or congregation meetings can ease anxiety and increase senses of trust.  Topic-specific adult and youth education classes also are very helpful. 
  
• Begin planning a rebuild trip. If you are far away, but want to make a difference in-person, consider coordinating with a reputable agency and planning a rebuild trip for six to nine months from now.  
  

In these days of mass media, local communities become deeply impacted by distant events.  Keeping eyes, ears, and hearts peeled to how service providers, individuals, families, and lay caregivers can best use their skills and passions to respond to local impact can greatly increase resiliency, decrease anxiety, and make growth contagious.

Above: Viral photos of the thousands of abandoned water bottles after Hurricane Maria

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Rev. Dr. Kate Wiebe serves as the Executive Director of ICTG. She is an organizational health consultant and pastoral psychotherapist. She lives with her family in Santa Barbara, CA. ​​