Volunteering & Relief Efforts for Hurricane Katrina Victims

The American Red Cross is calling the operation to provide relief for the victims of Hurricane Katrina their biggest relief effort ever--bigger than all of four of last year's major hurricane efforts rolled together. Needless to say they're looking for cash donations and volunteeers.

Here's a couple of ways you can help:

• Contribute Money to the Red Cross Online:
  I know money's tight for a lot of people right now and it's no different for me, but I pitched in $20 this morning. If you can afford even just $5 to go toward the relief effort, you can donate directly to the Red Cross online.
  http://www.redcross.org/donate/donate.html
  
  
• Attend Disaster Relief Training Mini-Camp and Deploy to Katrina Disaster Areas
  They're desperate for trained volunteers and they're offering a condensed version of training that's normally offered over 3 months in a 2 day period for people who are willing to ship out to the disaster areas for 1-3 week stints. The training classes mostly center around supply mobilization and emergency shelter management practices.
  
  More info:
  Volunteers Need for Hurricane Katrina Disaster Relief Operation

I know there's a number of people here who are regularly involved in benefits or volunteer for programs that support noble causes. If you're involved with anything related to Hurricane Katrina relief or you hear of any efforts going on locally, please post them to this thread or to a new topic.

Dear Silicon Valley Leaders and Friends,
As you may know, Hurricane Katrina has caused severe damage in areas of the southeastern United States. Volunteers are currently needed to assist in disaster relief efforts being implemented as a result of this natural disaster.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has asked California to recruit 120 volunteers a day for the next six to eight weeks. This requirement equates to 20 volunteers from Silicon Valley each day.

The Volunteer Center of Silicon Valley, in partnership and coordination with the American Red Cross, Santa Clara Valley Chapter and Palo Alto Chapter, is recruiting individual volunteers and groups from many community volunteer pools, corporations and local businesses, affiliated community based non profit organizations and many other individual and community and faith-based support activities.

Since yesterday morning Monday, August 29th, 300 volunteers have come forward and will be the initial community response contingent. Two companies, Cisco System and Apple are fielding 20 person teams as part of this response.

An intensive, two-day disaster training orientation is being offered for individuals or groups interested in immediate 1 to 2 week deployments. All travel, lodging and general personal expenses will be provided by the American Red Cross. Interested individuals must be18 years or older and are in good health.

On behalf of the Volunteer Center and our colleagues at the American Red Cross, I ask you to assist in this community disaster response recruitment effort within your purview and locality. We are available to assist in the development of your community response. Please have those individuals or groups that are interested contact the Volunteer Center of Silicon Valley. Richard Vega, Director of Information and Referral Services, the community disaster coordinator, is at 408-247-1126x309 or email irdirector@vcsv.us and can assist you with referral, scheduling and planning. For more general information, Evan Low, Community Affairs Manager is available to answer any questions at (408) 247-1126 ext.327, communityaffairs@vcsv.us.

The special intensive FREE 2-day Disaster Mini-Institute boot camp is for individuals or groups. The first class registration is closed. The second class is tentatively scheduled for September 14 and 15, 2005. However, as the situation develops, an additional class maybe scheduled next week. The schedule is as follows.

Wednesday, September 14, 2005

8:00am – 9:00am: American Red Cross Orientation – the history of the Red Cross and how they operate

9:00am – 12:00pm: Introduction to Disaster Services – how the Red Cross responds to disasters and how you can become a part of that system

1:00pm – 4:00pm: Logistics: An Overview – how the Red Cross moves supplies in a disaster

4:00pm – 5:00pm: Going on a Disaster Assignment – how volunteers to travel and what to do when a volunteer arrives at the disaster

For Nurses – Wednesday, 1:00pm – 4:00pm: Disaster Health Services: An Overview – how nurses responds in a Red Cross disaster relief operation

Thursday, September 15, 2005

8:00am – 10:00am: Mass Care: An Overview – how the Red Cross feeds, shelters, and distributes supplies to victims

10:00am – 1:00pm: Shelter Operations – how to be part of a shelter management team

2:00pm – 5:00pm: Shelter Simulation – a tabletop disaster exercise where you practice running a shelter

5:00pm – 6:00pm: Disaster Relief Operation Orientation – an orientation to Hurricane Katrina and what to expect

The training will be held at the American Red Cross, Santa Clara Valley Chapter offices, 2731 North First Street, San Jose, CA 95134-2029 on Wednesday, September 14 from 8am - 6pm and Thursday, September 15 from 8am - 6pm.

Finally, on behalf of the Volunteer Center of Silicon Valley and the American Red Cross, I would like to thank each of you for your leadership, personal commitment to community service and your past disaster response support activities. Your help is again needed for our neighbors in Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi. We look forward to working with you in this humanitarian effort by continuing our mission of connecting volunteers with community needs.

Sincerely,

Evan Low

-------------------------------------------------------
Evan Low
Community Affairs Manager
Volunteer Center of Silicon Valley, Inc.
1922 The Alameda, Suite 100
San Jose, CA 95126
www.vcsv.us

I really wish I could do this myself, but I hope some people reading this will seriously consider assisting with this. If you haven't been following the news or have only caught glimpses, this is a massive disaster and help is needed down there. It is BAD.

I'm bumping this thread up into discussion again. This is majorly important stuff, and very few are volunteering right now from Santa Clara County. If you can possibly manage it, please, volunteer and encourage others to do so.

Well, this isn't US citizen volunteerism or donation giving, but it's along the lines of relief funding. Offers are pouring in around the world to provide relief funding. Kuwait's government is working on approving a $500 million dollar aid package. Man, it feels weird hearing that.

A lot of people are wondering about what happens to all the animals. Well, I'm wondering the same thing so if you know the animal rescue and the animal policies in detail, please share.

There's a rescue organization that specifically rescues and shelters animals during disasters. The name is Noah's Wish and like the other relief organizations, they're looking for donations too.

http://www.noahswish.org/

There's a fundraiser for hurricane relief Thursday morning (9/8) at Sonoma Chicken Coop in Campbell. Check the Social Wave calendar for details!

I'll have to echo Habitat for Humanity! There's going to be a lot of people in the poorer sections that had their houses destroyed.

http://habitat.org