Donations to Red Cross and FEMA

[Rainband]

Sandi just told me if anyone has put off donating to Red Cross or Fema do it now. She said the area is a disaster area and it is unbelievable. There are human remains washing up on the beach Buildings are completely leveled and roads are gone. Massive devestation everywhere. She asked to make this a sticky!!!

[TampaFl]

That is terrible, possibly the death toll will rise. very sad, very sad indeed. .

[Stephanie]

Here's a link to the Red Cross - specifically discussing the disaster caused by the hurricanes;

http://www.redcross.org/article/0,1072, ... 32,00.html

Here's FEMA's link;

http://www.fema.gov/

[schmita]

Hey y'all,

Check out http://www.floridadisaster.org

[TigerMo]

I can't tell you how much of a difference support from other areas of the country can mean. After Hugo, folks here in S.C. were hurting badly. You see pictures of big homes on the front beach damaged and think that those wealthy people don't need help.

But its the rest of the folks that are in real need. Hurricanes destroy much more than the front beach. The damage is felt well inland. People lose their jobs when the grocery store or restaurant can't reopen because of damage. Food, water, diapers, clothes all become scarce. Ice is like gold. Many many people have no idea where their next meal will come from. This was before FEMA (back then FEMA had plans to rebuild after nuclear war - they didn't have much planned for hurricane relief). The Red Cross and Salvation Army and churches and other groups showed up and kept us alive.

Please donate in whatever amount or way you can.

The one image that stays with me more than anything else from Hugo is the bumper to bumper traffic. But it wasn't the evacuation before the storm. It was tractor-trailer after tractor-trailer streaming down the interstate towards Charleston carrying food, water, and other donations that communities from all over the country had collected and sent to us. Many had messages of support written on the trailers. Things like that truly make you appreciate living in this great country.

So whenever a hurricane strikes, I give - its the least I can do to repay those people that gave a little bit to keep my state alive in those terrible days after Hugo.

[FireCracker]

Are you sure you don't mean Human waste and not human remains? Where did you get this "fact"?

Schmita is right go to this lnk and go to the BOTTOM of the page: http://www.floridadisaster.org/

Also, Red Cross does not do the great job their slick advertising shows. I was directly involved in the Charley relief effort and not only was red cross absent from my area (except for one "director" then a replacement "director") , when they promised volunteers so I could establish a wharehouse and distribution point for food, water and ice. Nada!

The faith based charities really came through. Texas Baptist convention brought portable shower units to the hardest hit communities, State EOC brought portable showers and laundry facilities. The Catholic, Methodist and Luthern churchs opened their doors as shelters and in the feeding station I coordinated we served a thousand hot meals a day. We were shipping meals to the emergency workers and resident fo Useppa and Upper Captiva daily.

Finally the Salvation Army came in, and offered to take over relief efforts and were successful.

Two weeks later my community gets hit with Frances. Once again I am in the EOC and Red Cross avertised two comfort station openings before the trucks arrive. Due to weather in Tally town, the trucks do not arrive. an estimated 1000 people were lined up at two county locations with no food, water or ice. The Law Enforcement types practically had a riot in the making. Estimated 1000 people were told to go away.

The Red Cross were asked to step out of distribution and it fell to me and my Fire Rescue overhead team to get it done. We did, opening one at 0630 and the other at 0730 the next day . The National Gurad provided manpower and we provided the management team they worked for. After two days, the DOF overhead team came in and managed the operation until relieved.

Red Cross did not staff the shelters adequately by using too few people. The shelter managers were overwhelmed. The roving ERTs (deliver food and water) had to be asked twice by me to travel into the poorest (minority) areas with the greatest need. I don't know if the elderly drivers are scared or are told to travel in the middle class areas only. (Saw them on my street and on the barrier island).

Red Cross is my LAST choice for donations.

[schmita]

I have to agree with Firecracker. During the aftermath of Sept. 11th, the Red Cross was absolutely horrible to us. We were evacuated and the Red Cross executives were staying at the Parker Meridien Hotel and making us jump through hoops for housing. When they finally offered it, it was at an inexpensive hotel w/everything bolted to the floor. When I pointed this out, the executive said that the volunteers liked it !!
The Salvation Army was great and FEMA was very efficient.

I personally would never give money to the Red Cross.

[HurricaneQueen]

Well, I'll jump in here and be the third disident. I have put off donating because I really didn't want to give to the Red Cross. I have heard they have the highest ratio of admin cost/outlay (help given)

Also, in St. Maarten in the aftermath of Luis the Red Cross (Not US) was supposed to be distributing water to stranded tourists at the very hot, crowded airport. I never saw any water but they continued to ask for donations when they weren't seeking shade.

As soon as I got back to the US, I started calling to get help down there. My first call was to the local chapter and and an elderly woman who answered, asked "what hurricanne"? I almost lost it until she gave me the State office number. No help there but maybe the national. After many, many phone calls to DC, I was told we don't help other countries. I was beside myself. People were suffering, Americans and others. I realize that their resources are limited but the manner in which I was treated was terrible.

My work as a trustee and personal representative for the wealthy and elderly often puts me in contact with the Salvation Army and although they may do a decent job, I find them much too greedy for my liking. Once again the admin costs are large as they chase down any potential donations/bequests. There are very heavy in the legal/fundraising departments.

Last night I found the site that fircracker noted: http://www.floridadisaster.org/ and a substantial donation will be made today.

The above are just my personal opinions and observations. I'm sure there are many who have seen first hand great work performed by both organizations but my money is on the Florida Relief Organization. FEMA would be my second choice but they are governmental and should be funded with our tax dollars.

Lynn

Lynn

[TigerMo]

I think the key is to find the method you are comfortable with and give, whether it be cash, goods, or services. http://www.floridadisaster.org/ gives great info on things that are needed. Many folks have been upset with the Red Cross national organization since 9/11. Fine, give to another group. Give to your national religous organization's relief efforts. Donate food. Send a Lowes or Home Depot gift card to a friend or relative. But find a way to help out.

[bfez1]

I made my donation after Charley!

[Downdraft]

I wouldn't give the Red Cross snow in a blizzard after the stunt they tried to pull after 9-11. As for FEMA they are a government entity supported by tax dollars. Now if you want to donate your money to someone worthwhile try the Salvation Army they certainly deserve it.

[Rainband]

Are you sure you don't mean Human waste and not human remains? Where did you get this "fact"?

From my friend sandi, she lives(lived) in Gulf Breeze. She lost her home and just about everything in it. She said remains and not waste. So I am pretty sure I meant what I said. A sad situation

[FireCracker]

You are right, very sad.

[Guest]

HOW TO HELP

Emergency management officials recommend that those wishing to assist hurricane victims give cash donations and resist going to affected areas. Some charitable groups recommended by the Federal Emergency Management Agency:

* Salvation Army, (800) 725-2769, http://www.salvationarmyusa.org

* Catholic Charities USA, (800) 919-9338, http://www.catholiccharitiesusa.org

* United Methodist Committee on Relief, (800) 554-8583, http://gbgm-umc.org/

* American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, (800) 435-7669 or (800) 257-7575 (Spanish), http://www.redcross.org/

For a complete list of agencies, go to http://www.fema.gov/rrr/help2.shtm

[ilmc172pilot]

the one good thing about natural disaster is people overcome all the BS and help each other

[rs4919]

I'll have to strongly disagree with one comment HurricaneQueen made regarding overhead costs. The Salvation Army has one of the lowest, if not the lowest, administrative overhead costs of any charitable organization in the US. A search of the internet will confirm this through organizations that rate charitable groups.

As one whose parents and grandparents were officers in the Salvation Army I'm heartened to hear of the work the Army has been doing in the aftermath of Charley and Frances here in Florida. It seems as if the Red Cross has been the organziation getting all of the publicity.

[CFL]

FEMA deserves a huge pat on the back. They wired a check directly to my account to help with housing costs because my home was damaged. They have provided much needed ice, water, and MREs that have sustained my family through the past week. They were quick with action that was desperately needed here in the Pensacola/Cantonment area.