Hurricanes - Need Help - YOU Can Help With Money
For the majority of you who do not know me, I am a Red Cross Disaster Services Call Agent in my volunteer life. Basically, when a disaster strikes I am one of the hundreds of Call Agents around our country whom the victims of the disaster talk to on the phone. We do our best to help the victims receive medical aid, clothes (in floods or other water disaster clothes are often lost or contaminated and must be discarded), food, shelter and whatever else we can do talking to them, like mental support.
I am writing this diary wearing my Red Cross vest, not my political hat. Politics are on the side right now. I am writing about a possible disaster called Ike which is following Hanna and Gustav. As with all hurricanes and tropical storms there is no way to know the intensity or damages until it hits. But, we have to be prepared for the worst and that costs a lot of time and money. It is also hard on the local citizens, such as stocking food and water and covering windows and evacuating and possibly returning to a shelter instead of their home or apartment.
Yesterday, Saturday Sept. 6, I did a shift at the call center handling calls from Hurricane Gustav victims. For me the work was something I enjoy doing, helping people get back on track after having their lives completely disrupted.
Red Cross Disaster Services personnel from around the country are deployed to several states; to staging areas ready to move in once it is somewhat safe into the areas hit by the hurricane. This is costly and difficult for all involved because of the unknowns for those leaving. This is a deployment of personnel, without a true return date. We do not know how horrible conditions will be, or when things will end.
Philp Rucker of the Washington Post wrote an excellent article Saturday Sept. 6, 2008. He found that all of the groups involved in disaster relief are not getting money donations; donations immensely under the costs incurred so far.
The American Red Cross said yesterday that it is going deep into debt to fund a $70 million Hurricane Gustav relief effort, an unusual occurrence even as the nation’s biggest disaster aid charity braces for a trio of powerful storms lurking in the Atlantic. The Red Cross has raised less than $5 million toward its Gustav expenses, officials said. To recoup its Gustav cost — most of it borrowed money — the nonprofit organization plans to roll out an aggressive national campaign Monday.
I am asking you to please contribute to the Red Cross. Yes, this is a fundraising request for a non-profit. The Red Cross is supported only by contributions from people around the world. We do not receive any government monies.
Right now the Red Cross needs your money donations as we enter what will be an expensive series of hurricanes here in the U.S. I also know that many of you will contribute to a candidate this week. Consider giving half or more to the Red Cross. We will be taking care of people in life threatening situations this week. Your candidate will not know what they did not get unless you put a note in the envelope saying they helped you contribute to the hurricane victims.
The Red Cross relies on your contribution to help others. Please contribute either at the National Red Cross website or your local Red Cross such as the Mile High Red Cross Chapter.