RexBlog.com: Rex Hammock’s weblog » Blog Archive » How the Red Cross is using Twitter, YouTube, Flickr, RSS and Wordpress.com in their disaster response efforts

Chris Brogan pointed to this story on RexBlog.com

RexBlog.com: Rex Hammock’s weblog » Blog Archive » How the Red Cross is using Twitter, YouTube, Flickr, RSS and Wordpress.com in their disaster response efforts: "Kudos to whoever at the Red Cross came up with the approach of setting up this website (and the executive who approved it) to support their efforts to meet the massive needs resulting from the tornadoes and floods in the Midwest. Because the Red Cross, like lots of organizations, has been at least experimenting with social media, someone within the organization had the mindset to pull together the tools necessary to quickly launch a website that is rich in new-media features. In doing so, they are providing a simple model to others of how online networking and conversational community building tools can be combined almost instantly* to support large-scale communication efforts."

Iowa Call Center Swiftly Transforms Into Emergency Response Unit

Iowa Call Center Swiftly Transforms Into Emergency Response Unit: "A newspaper based in Iowa devastated city of Cedar Rapids is reporting that a fundraising arm for nonprofit organizations is using its normally placid call center as an emergency response facility to help area residents displaced by yesterday’s floods."

Logistics hamper Myanmar relief - CNN.com

Logistics hamper Myanmar relief - CNN.com: "Workers for the U.N. children's agency UNICEF have had no trouble with Myanmar officials, UNICEF spokesman Mike Bociurkiw said."

Myanmar says US aid can't be trusted (phillyBurbs.com) | Asia

Myanmar says US aid can't be trusted (phillyBurbs.com) | Asia: "ANGON, Myanmar - As individuals and aid agencies around the world dig into their pockets for funds to help Myanmar's cyclone victims, the country's ruling junta said Friday that such assistance from the United States could not be trusted."

Charities Grill FEMA Over Distribution of Hurricane Katrina Relief Supplies - Philanthropy.com

Charities Grill FEMA Over Distribution of Hurricane Katrina Relief Supplies - Philanthropy.com: "Charities Grill FEMA Over Distribution of Hurricane Katrina Relief Supplies

Louisiana nonprofit groups are wondering why they were never offered any of the $85-million in supplies for Hurricane Katrina victims that the Federal Emergency Management Agency stored for two years before giving them to federal and state agencies, reports CNN."

UN says it needs more money for Myanmar relief | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle

UN says it needs more money for Myanmar relief | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle: "YANGON, Myanmar — The United Nations said Thursday it has received less than half the money it needs for cyclone relief in Myanmar, with some nations delaying their donations because of concerns about restrictions imposed by the military government on foreign aid workers.

The U.N. set a goal of $201.6 million for its relief efforts but so far has received only $113.2 million, or 44 percent, from government donors, it said. An additional $51 million in pledges has not yet been delivered, the U.N. said."

SignOnSanDiego.com > News > Metro -- Most approve of job charities doing

SignOnSanDiego.com > News > Metro -- Most approve of job charities doing: "An overwhelming majority of San Diego County residents thinks local charities deliver quality services, but nonprofits should do a better job explaining how they work, according to a new study to be released today."

South Florida: Catholics, Muslims amass funds for Myanmar relief -- South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com

South Florida: Catholics, Muslims amass funds for Myanmar relief -- South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com: "Catholics and Muslims have donated $23,700 thus far in a collection for the relief effort in cyclone-stricken Myanmar, South Florida leaders of the two faiths announced Wednesday."

Researchers use DoD satellites to aid Myanmar relief workers « San Oo Aung’s Weblog

Researchers use DoD satellites to aid Myanmar relief workers « San Oo Aung’s Weblog: "ASU turns images into tools for aid organizations working in devastated areas

By Sharon Gaudin

June 11, 2008 (Computerworld) Scientists at Arizona State University are using satellite images from the U.S. Department of Defense to aid disaster-relief efforts in Myanmar.

And now they’re also setting their sights on aiding relief efforts for earthquake victims in China."

UN official says pregnant Myanmar cyclone victims in urgent need of care - International Herald Tribune

UN official says pregnant Myanmar cyclone victims in urgent need of care - International Herald Tribune: "More than 100 women give birth every day in the area affected by the cyclone, William A. Ryan, a spokesman for the United Nations Population Fund, and 35,000 of the estimated 2.4 million cyclone survivors are pregnant women.

Pregnancy and childbirth were already relatively risky in Myanmar, one of Asia's poorest countries, even before the May 2-3 Cyclone Nargis, Ryan said at a news conference Wednesday."

Red Cross fundraisers generate $350K | IndyStar.com | The Indianapolis Star

Red Cross fundraisers generate $350K | IndyStar.com | The Indianapolis Star: "A day after collecting at least $350,000 in a mass fundraising effort, the American Red Cross today is beginning to saturate hard-hit south-central Indiana neighborhoods to help beleaguered flood victims.

Ann A. Gregson, manager of resource development for American Red Cross of Greater Indianapolis, said an all-day phone bank staffed by workers of insurer Conseco in Carmel raised $169,000. Walk-up donation at Emmis Communications' studios at Monument Circle Indianapolis brought in $8,000 and another $27,000 came in via Internet donations."

Foreign Aid for Myanmar Still Struggles to Get In - WSJ.com

Foreign Aid for Myanmar Still Struggles to Get In - WSJ.com: "YANGON, Myanmar -- Two weeks after Myanmar's government promised to open its doors to foreign-aid workers, little has changed for relief staff here, and in some ways the situation has worsened.

Access to the country's devastated Irrawaddy River delta has improved for a few relief organizations, including groups affiliated with the United Nations, since U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon met with Myanmar's top generals in late May and appeared to extract a promise for greater access to victims."