Disaster Relief (Ongoing coverage)

This AFP Blog contains material about ongoing Disaster relief efforts gathered by the AFP Fundraising Resource Center and was renamed from Hurricane Katrina. Please Note: PRESS RELEASES where marked. Other Sites Disclaimer: AFP provides this listing of hyperlinks as a privilege to the user. AFP does not necessarily endorse, support or attest to the accuracy of information posted on those Internet pages. Some urls may require registration to view and/or may only be available for a limited time.

Friday, June 23, 2006

Chron.com | Red Cross Gets Surge in Katrina Volunteers

Chron.com | Red Cross Gets Surge in Katrina Volunteers: "Red Cross Gets Surge in Katrina Volunteers

By RUSS BYNUM Associated Press Writer
© 2006 The Associated Press

SAVANNAH, Ga. — Less than a month after signing up as a Red Cross volunteer in Georgia, 67-year-old Al Lucas went to a Louisiana shelter filled with hundreds who lost their homes to Hurricane Katrina.

Nine months later, he's still on the roster as a disaster team captain for the group's Savannah chapter, one of thousands who remain active nationwide after first coming to the agency in Katrina's wake.

'The first thing that dawned on me was this was not going to be a unique situation,' says Lucas, a retired Coast Guard air-rescue crewman. 'These kinds of things could happen anytime, anywhere, to us.'"

Nonprofit Sector Research Fund - What's New-"Weathering the Storm': a Katrina Report

Nonprofit Sector Research Fund - What's New: "Weathering the Storm': a Katrina Report

NEED FOR FEMA AND RED CROSS TO COORDINATE MORE EFFECTIVELY WITH LOCAL AND FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS IDENTIFIED

NEW REPORT HIGHLIGHTS ROLE OF GRASSROOTS NONPROFITS IN DISASTER RELIEF

National responder groups were overwhelmed by the monumental task of providing relief to hundreds of thousands of Hurricane Katrina victims, shifting a large burden onto small relief agencies. However, these local groups received limited support and coordination from FEMA and the American Red Cross, according to a report by Tony Pipa, Weathering the Storm: the Role of Local Nonprofits in the Hurricane Katrina Relief Effort, commissioned by the Nonprofit Sector and Philanthropy Program (NSPP) of the Aspen Institute."

Thursday, June 22, 2006

TownOnline.com - Arts & Lifestyle: Post-Katrina syndrome hits home

TownOnline.com - Arts & Lifestyle: Post-Katrina syndrome hits home: "This is the third and final article in a series written by Wellesley Middle School students who traveled to Louisiana over April vacation with member of the Unitarian Universalist Society of Wellesley Hills to help with the Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. Sophie Cushman is in seventh grade.
Post-Katrina syndrome. Three words, a condition affecting hundreds of thousands of people.
Last August, a Category 3 hurricane, Katrina, hit Louisiana and a few other southern states. In towns outside New Orleans, trees came down on hundreds of houses, cars were crushed and houses flooded. In the lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans, conditions were even worse."

Wednesday, June 21, 2006

Yakima Herald Republic Online-Those involved in Katrina fraud should repay

Yakima Herald Republic Online - Home Page - Yakima, Washington News, Classifieds, Information, Advertising: "Those involved in Katrina fraud should repay

Government investigators have discovered that Hurricane Katrina relief efforts were bilked out of some $1.4 billion that went for everything from season football tickets to pricey hotel rooms in Hawaii.
And while we're appalled, we're frankly not surprised at such a display of greed and corruption of well-intentioned efforts to help. It is a sad testimonial to the reality that no matter the extent of a tragedy, there are those who will exploit it.

Obviously the oft-criticized Federal Emergency Management Agency needs to work on its allotment procedures. But we don't intend to engage in FEMA-bashing that was so justifiably prevalent in the wake of the agency's response to the tragedy. That's because we don't want to see the generous and compassionate response of concerned Americans and their government diminished in future natural disasters because of the threat of a few who stoop to this type of rerouting of money intended for helpless victims."

Tuesday, June 20, 2006

House Bill Raises Disaster Fraud Penalties

House Bill Raises Disaster Fraud Penalties: "House Bill Raises Disaster Fraud Penalties

By JIM ABRAMS
The Associated Press
Tuesday, June 20, 2006; 2:21 PM

WASHINGTON -- Scammers hoping to finance tropical vacations or season tickets to football games with federal disaster funds may have second thoughts with House passage of legislation imposing sentences of up to 30 years for fraud related to disaster relief.

The legislation, approved by a voice vote Tuesday, was brought to the House floor a week after congressional investigators concluded that the Federal Emergency Management Agency was defrauded of up to $1.4 billion as it rushed to provide relief after last year's hurricanes Katrina and Rita."

Monday, June 19, 2006

Reuters AlertNet - "DON'T SHORT CHANGE JAVA EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS

Reuters AlertNet - "DON'T SHORT CHANGE JAVA EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS: "Don't Short-change Java Earthquake Victims

Yogyakarta, Indonesia

6,000 dead and 600,000 homeless. Another 400,000 sleeping outdoors because they're afraid to go inside. The earthquake in Central Java should be receiving more attention, including greater international assistance. Why isn't this happening?"

Tycoon gets serious about giving

Tycoon gets serious about giving: "Oi Hong Leong

Singapore tycoon Oei Hong Leong is still serious about making money but from now on, part of the cash he makes from his famously masterful investments will go to charity.

The new direction was underlined in a dramatic fashion recently when Oei announced he was giving 1 million Singapore dollars (C$700,000) to help victims of the earthquake in Central Java."

Leaderless Palm Beach Red Cross chapter insists it's ready: South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Leaderless Palm Beach Red Cross chapter insists it's ready: South Florida Sun-Sentinel: "f a hurricane hits Palm Beach County this season, it again will be the busiest time of the year for the local Red Cross chapter.

But the agency known for coming to the rescue in disasters is without a local leader.

Former Executive Director Dean Dimke left in April after four years to become communications manager for a South Carolina electronics company, and the Red Cross has yet to fill his job."

Friday, June 16, 2006

Agency: Cities not prepared for disasters - Yahoo! News

Agency: Cities not prepared for disasters - Yahoo! News: "New Orleans is still woefully unprepared for catastrophes 10 months after Hurricane Katrina, and the two cities targeted by the 9/11 attacks don't meet all guidelines for responding to major disasters, a federal security analysis concluded Friday."

Aid groups say shortage of funds hampering Indonesia quake efforts

Aid groups say shortage of funds hampering Indonesia quake efforts: "Aid groups say shortage of funds hampering Indonesia quake efforts

Canadian Press
Published: Thursday, June 15, 2006

YOGYAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) - Six international aid groups appealed Thursday for more funds to help survivors of last month's earthquake in Indonesia, saying the shortfall meant they were unable to carry out emergency relief work.

'The scale of this disaster is much greater than first thought,' said David MacDonald, from Oxfam. 'Donors . . . need to re-evaluate their commitments to reflect ongoing urgent needs for the basics such as shelter, water and sanitation.'"

Wednesday, June 14, 2006

New Orleans CityBusiness -- "Red Cross head says agency is better prepared for hurricanes

New Orleans CityBusiness -- The Business Newspaper of Metropolitan New Orleans: "Red Cross head says agency is better prepared for hurricanes
By AP

2006-06-14 10:33 AM CST

BILOXI, Miss. (AP) — The interim president of the American Red Cross says a lack of communication and available warehouse space during Hurricane Katrina were among the lessons learned from the storm, but the agency is better prepared this storm season.

In April, the Red Cross announced that it would invest $80 million in disaster recovery services and preparedness by tripling its warehouse space and improving communications."

FT.com / World / International economy - Cost of Java quake to exceed $3bn

FT.com / World / International economy - Cost of Java quake to exceed $3bn : "Cost of Java quake to exceed $3bn
By Shawn Donnan and Taufan Hidayat in Jakarta
Published: June 12 2006 22:06 | Last updated: June 12 2006 22:06

Indonesia is to tell donors that last month’s central Java earthquake caused more than $3bn (€2.4bn, £1.6bn) in damage, making the likely cost of reconstruction potentially higher than far deadlier disasters such as last year’s earthquake in Pakistan."

Radio Ink - The Voice of Radio Revolution

Radio Ink - The Voice of Radio Revolution: "The NAB reports that local radio and TV stations generated a record $10.3 billion in public service in 2005, through a combination of airtime donated for public service announcements and money raised for charity and disaster relief. "

Lives Suspended on Gulf Coast, Crammed Into 240 Square Feet - New York Times

Lives Suspended on Gulf Coast, Crammed Into 240 Square Feet - New York Times: "Lives Suspended on Gulf Coast, Crammed Into 240 Square Feet
Nicole Bengiveno/The New York Times

By DAN BARRY
Published: June 14, 2006

LAKESHORE, Miss., June 12 — If you were to fly over rural Hancock County here, you would see more than 9,000 of them, white rectangles clumped in sun-bleached parks and scattered in piney woods like pieces of a trashed picket fence. Pick any one, and contained within that FEMA trailer are lives in claustrophobic suspension."

Monday, June 12, 2006

Tropical Storm Alberto drenches Cuba - Yahoo! News

Tropical Storm Alberto drenches Cuba - Yahoo! News: "AVANA - Tropical Storm Alberto drenched western Cuba Monday after a weekend of heavy rains prompted evacuations, caused some dilapidated buildings to collapse and flooded low-lying areas in Havana."

newsarticle - Philanthropy Journal-"Aid flows into Indonesia

newsarticle - Philanthropy Journal-Your online source for news about nonprofits, social issues, and policy change: "Aid flows into Indonesia

As rebuilding from quake starts, fears of disease outbreak loom.

06.06.2006 -

Contributions continued to flow to Indonesia in response to the earthquake that rocked the country in late May, and the official death toll dropped to 5,800 from 6,200 as of June 5, the Associated Press reported."

KRT Wire | 06/12/2006 | Smaller towns say there'd overlooked in Katrina aid

KRT Wire | 06/12/2006 | Smaller towns say there'd overlooked in Katrina aid: "Smaller towns say there'd overlooked in Katrina aid
BY RYAN LAFONTAINE
Knight Ridder Newspapers

BILOXI, Miss. - With much of the national media attention still focused on New Orleans' struggle to recover from Hurricane Katrina, Bay St. Louis Mayor Eddie Favre says it's a wonder South Mississippi receives any help at all.

'There's still so much emphasis on saving New Orleans or rebuilding New Orleans that all of us in South Mississippi are being overshadowed,' Favre said."

Wednesday, June 07, 2006

Reuters AlertNet - Red Cross triples emergency appeal for Indonesia

Reuters AlertNet - Red Cross triples emergency appeal for Indonesia: "GENEVA, June 7 (Reuters) - The International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies on Wednesday tripled its appeal to 38 million Swiss francs ($31 million) to help survivors of last month's devastating earthquake in Indonesia."

ReliefWeb » Document Preview » Indonesia Yogyakarta Earthquake: Revised Appeal no. MDRID001

ReliefWeb » Document Preview » Indonesia Yogyakarta Earthquake: Revised Appeal no. MDRID001: "Indonesia Yogyakarta Earthquake: Revised Appeal no. MDRID001

The Federation’s mission is to improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity. It is the world’s largest humanitarian organization and its millions of volunteers are active in over 183 countries.

In Brief

THIS REVISED EMERGENCY APPEAL SEEKS CHF 38,045,439 (USD 31 MILLION OR EUR 24 MILLION) IN CASH, KIND, OR SERVICES TO ASSIST 325,000 BENEFICIARIES FOR 12 MONTHS.

A timely and generous donor response to the preliminary appeal (now CHF 20 million, including hard and provisional pledges) has enabled an effective response operation. Assessments continue on relief and longer-term recovery needs, and a revised plan of action is in preparation, to be issued in the coming weeks. The Federation encourages cash contributions (a further CHF 18 million is required) to allow maximum flexibility in assisting the Indonesian Red Cross (Palang Merah Indonesia, or PMI) to deliver the planned assistance to the affected population."

Tuesday, June 06, 2006

Aid flows into Indonesia - Philanthropy Journal-Your online source for news about nonprofits, social issues, and policy change

Aid flows into Indonesia - Philanthropy Journal-Your online source for news about nonprofits, social issues, and policy change: "id flows into Indonesia

As rebuilding from quake starts, fears of disease outbreak loom.

06.06.2006 -

Contributions continued to flow to Indonesia in response to the earthquake that rocked the country in late May, and the official death toll dropped to 5,800 from 6,200 as of June 5, the Associated Press reported.

Estimates of fatalities fell following news that some of the missing had been found alive and other victims had been counted more than once among the dead, AP said.

But aid workers now are concerned about possible disease outbreaks as a result of conditions in which people are forced to cook and clean with dirty water, and where some are living in chicken coops, adding to fears of a bird flu outbreak in a country where three dozen people have died of the virus since early 2005, Reuters said."