Disaster fund too rigid to offer timely help in Philippines, say charities | South China Morning Post

Disaster fund too rigid to offer timely help in Philippines, say charities | South China Morning Post: Disaster fund too rigid to offer timely help in Philippines, say charities

Major charities call on government to revamp Disaster Relief

Typhoon Haiyan Survivors Begin an Odyssey to Find Their Families in the Philippines - WSJ.com

Typhoon Haiyan Survivors Begin an Odyssey to Find Their Families in the Philippines - WSJ.com: CEBU CITY, Philippines—Just after nightfall, three men jostled with hundreds of other people for spots aboard a rust-stained ferry leaving this port for an island where they hoped to find loved ones alive—or prepare to bury them.

Typhoon Haiyan ripped across the Philippines a week earlier, focusing much of its wrath on Samar Island. A few hundred of those on the Cebu dock found their way aboard the Samar-bound 34-year-old ferry, the Blessed Stars.

Top Philippines Relief Charities, According To Charity Navigator

Top Philippines Relief Charities, According To Charity Navigator: yphoon Haiyan, considered the most powerful storm to ever make landfall battered the Philippines with sustained winds close to 200 mph. The current death toll is feared to be over 10,000. The storm has caused mudslides, 30 feet high storm surges, as well as flash flooding. According to Philippine authorities, more than 12 million people are at risk due to the storm's powerful impact.

U.S. and U.K. Aid Groups Report Rapid Typhoon Haiyan Giving - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

U.S. and U.K. Aid Groups Report Rapid Typhoon Haiyan Giving - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: Individual Americans gave more than $33-million for relief work in the Philippines in the week after the island nation was struck by Typhoon Haiyan, CNN Money says.

The American Red Cross said it had collected $11-million from U.S. donors as of Thursday morning, and the figure was expected to climb once contributions made via Facebook and iTunes were factored in. Unicef had taken in $4.7-million by Thursday, and World Vision said its tally at the end of Friday was $6-million.

Picking the Best Charity for Typhoon Haiyan Relief | Eric Friedman

Picking the Best Charity for Typhoon Haiyan Relief | Eric Friedman: We have all seen the horrific pictures and news stories from the Philippines following Typhoon Haiyan, and many of us want to help. Experts are offering advice on how to do this most effectively, though the recommendations vary and sometimes even conflict. To make sense of it all, I've compiled a summary of the various pieces of advice so that thoughtful donors have a more complete picture of the landscape before making the decision of how best to help.

The Challenges And Limitations Of Disaster Donations | KGOU

The Challenges And Limitations Of Disaster Donations | KGOU: The Challenges And Limitations Of Disaster Donations

Typhoon Haiyan task force forms to rush aid - SFGate

Typhoon Haiyan task force forms to rush aid - SFGate: rustrated by delayed relief efforts in regions of the Philippines most devastated by a powerful typhoon, leaders of an alliance of Filipino American organizations launched a campaign Wednesday to ask for donations and streamline those gifts to the islands.

The National Alliance for Filipino Concerns was among a number of groups trying to ramp up fundraising, and they announced their campaign

Typhoon Haiyan: New storms slowing relief efforts in Philippines - chicagotribune.com

Typhoon Haiyan: New storms slowing relief efforts in Philippines - chicagotribune.com: he death toll from the massive typhoon that hit the Philippines is likely closer to 2,000 or 2,500, not the previously reported figure of 10,000, President Benigno Aquino told CNN in an interview on Tuesday.

"The figure right now I have is about 2,000, but this might still get higher," Aquino told CNN reporter Christiane Amanpour in an interview was posted on CNN's website.

Emergency relief in the Philippines and fundraising for your nonprofit | FundraisingCoach.com

Emergency relief in the Philippines and fundraising for your nonprofit | FundraisingCoach.com: Congratulations to Facebook and the Red Cross for making it ridiculously easy to support those devastated by Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines!

Even if you don't have the connections or relationship to get this type of top billing on Facebook, there are loads of ways you and your nonprofit can support the relief efforts.

Typhoon Haiyan: How to Help with Recovery Efforts

Typhoon Haiyan: How to Help with Recovery Efforts: Relief organizations and first-responders are mobilizing to provide aid to those affected by Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines. Organizations are working tirelessly on the ground to provide clean water, first aid, food, and shelter to those impacted. We've compiled a list of organizations to which you can donate to support these efforts as well as some disaster recovery resources. The staff at TechSoup Global is keeping all those affected by the devastating typhoon in our thoughts as we work to support recovery efforts.

DEC Philippines appeal raises �13m in a day

DEC Philippines appeal raises �13m in a day: The Disasters Emergency Committee has raised �13m for its Philippines Typhoon appeal less than 24 hours after its first advertisements hit television screens.

The funds have poured in since the fundraising organisation, which comprises 14 member agencies, announced its appeal yesterday morning. The DEC said the rate of donations is “unprecedented” in its appeal history.

Canadian charity GlobalMedic working in Philippines to prevent secondary disaster after Typhoon Haiyan | KNLive

Canadian charity GlobalMedic working in Philippines to prevent secondary disaster after Typhoon Haiyan | KNLive: We’re focused on getting them clean drinking water,” says Rahul Singh, founder and executive director of GlobalMedic, an organization dedicated to helping people get water in areas of devastation. The groups have teams on the ground in the Philippines who have water purification systems and tablets. “People are vulnerable – they lost their shelter – and we don’t want them to get sick. We want to avoid catastrophe.”

Sending Prayers and Concrete Help to the Philippines: Bayanihan’ Spirit | Beth’s Blog

Sending Prayers and Concrete Help to the Philippines: Bayanihan’ Spirit | Beth’s Blog: esterday, Veteran’s Day, was a sad day for me. I remembered my Dad, who passed away this year, who was a WW2 Vet and stationed in the Philippines. I remember him telling me stories about his experience there , one poignant story about going into a rural village and finding it destroyed. He and his fellow soldiers found a church bell in the jungle and returned it to the villagers who were overjoyed to have it although the church itself was destroyed.

Crafting Better Disaster Response After Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines - World Report (usnews.com)

Crafting Better Disaster Response After Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines - World Report (usnews.com): On Saturday, at the request of the Philippines Government, Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel instructed Pacific Command to support humanitarian relief operations associated with the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan. Logistics support, including maritime search and rescue, medium-heavy lift, fixed wing support and enablers will be provided. The Department of Defense has touted the importance of a "whole of government" approach to disaster relief that would integrate U.S. military and civilian agency assistance and link directly with those on the ground in affected countries.

How Nonprofits and Donors Can Help With Typhoon Haiyan Relief - News - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

How Nonprofits and Donors Can Help With Typhoon Haiyan Relief - News - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: he Chronicle talked with Robert Ottenhoff, president of the Center for Disaster Philanthropy about what is happening and how donors and nonprofits can avoid mistakes.

This is the first big interna�tional disaster since your group was founded in August 2012. What are your thoughts on the donor-solicitation or giving efforts so far?

Canadian disaster-relief team moving ‘incredibly fast,’ Baird says - The Globe and Mail

Canadian disaster-relief team moving ‘incredibly fast,’ Baird says - The Globe and Mail: Ottawa has sent a disaster-response team to help with typhoon relief efforts in the Philippines.

Canada’s Disaster Assistance Response Team, known as DART, is made up of Canadian Forces personnel who are trained to respond quickly to humanitarian emergencies abroad. The team’s most recent deployment was after the 2010 earthquake in Haiti.

WFP Mounts Logistics Response For People Hit By Typhoon Haiyan | WFP | United Nations World Food Programme - Fighting Hunger Worldwide

WFP Mounts Logistics Response For People Hit By Typhoon Haiyan | WFP | United Nations World Food Programme - Fighting Hunger Worldwide: MANILA - The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is mobilising food and logistics supplies and communications equipment to assist the Government-led emergency response to Super Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines.

Country Director and WFP Representative Praveen Agrawal, who returned today to Manila from the affected areas, said: “The main challenges right now are related to logistics. Roads are blocked, airports are destroyed. As the UN agency leading the humanitarian community’s Logistics Cluster, WFP is working with the government to set up operational hubs and organize airlifts of essential supplies.”

DEC launches Philippines typhoon appeal

DEC launches Philippines typhoon appeal: The Disasters Emergency Committee has launched an appeal for the Philippines, just three days after the super typhoon Haiyan struck the archipelago.

By yesterday all but one of the 14 member agencies of the Disasters Emergency Committee had launched their individual appeals following the devastating typhoon which has left many thousands dead and millions stranded in the south east Asian country. Action Aid was the only one of the charities not to have launched its own appeal for the Philippines as it does not work in the country, instead it was asking for donations for dealing with the impact of Haiyan in neighbouring Vietnam, where it does have operations.

Diary of a Disaster: Typhoon Recover Underway in Cebu City, Philippines - Southeast Asia Real Time - WSJ

Diary of a Disaster: Typhoon Recover Underway in Cebu City, Philippines - Southeast Asia Real Time - WSJ: In the provincial government offices here, hundreds of mostly young volunteers have gathered, flocking from universities, hospitals and local call centers to help mobilize aid to the areas most gravely affected by a super-typhoon that swept across the Philippines on Friday, causing untold damage and deaths estimated to reach into the thousands.

Emotions high among Bay State kin | Boston Herald

Emotions high among Bay State kin | Boston Herald: A Bay State disaster relief expert left last night for his native Philippines to aid survivors of one of the strongest storms ever to make landfall, while other local Filipinos searched for ways to help from afar as the death toll mounted.

Luis Matnog, disaster program manager at the American Red Cross of Eastern Massachusetts, will spend the next month as part of a relief team assessing the needs of people in the wake of Typhoon Haiyan.

Charities providing relief for victims of Typhoon Haiyan

National Philanthropic Trust: Charities providing relief for victims of Typhoon Haiyan

The following are 501(c)3 US charities providing on-the-ground relief in wake of the recent typhoon that devastated the Philippines and other parts of Southeast Asia. When recommending a grant, please indicate “Typhoon Haiyan Relief” as the purpose of your grant to ensure that the charity designates your gift for this purpose.

BBC News - Typhoon Haiyan: Philippines battles to bring storm aid

BBC News - Typhoon Haiyan: Philippines battles to bring storm aid: 'Not enough manpower'

The relief efforts in the Philippines are being focused on the eastern province of Leyte and its capital Tacloban.

But officials in the city said they were struggling to distribute aid, looting was widespread and order was proving difficult to enforce.

Horror stories as 10,000 feared dead in Typhoon Haiyan

Horror stories as 10,000 feared dead in Typhoon Haiyan: Rescue and relief efforts were having trouble getting to the scene of the most damage, such as Tacloban, where even the Red Cross saw its offices damaged.

"This area has been totally ravaged", said Sebastien Sujobert, head of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Tacloban. "Many lives were lost, a huge number of people are missing, and basic services such as drinking water and electricity have been cut off," he said.

Canada launches matching fund to help those impacted by Typhoon Haiyan � ForeignAffairs.co.nz

Canada launches matching fund to help those impacted by Typhoon Haiyan � ForeignAffairs.co.nz: Canada launches matching fund to help those impacted by Typhoon Haiyan

Canadian Foreign Affairs and International Trade –

Canada is calling on Canadians to help support the people affected by the devastating effects of Typhoon Haiyan through a matching fund. The announcement was made today by the Honourable Christian Paradis, Minister of International Development and La Francophonie

Vietnam heads to shelter as Typhoon Haiyan makes landfall | Herald Sun

Vietnam heads to shelter as Typhoon Haiyan makes landfall | Herald Sun: MORE than 600,000 people have been evacuated amid fears of flooding and damaging winds as a weakened Typhoon Haiyan makes landfall on the northeast coast of Vietnam.

The US Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) said the typhoon "is currently making landfall'' about 160km/h east south-east of the capital Hanoi.

CNN reported that the typhoon was packing sustained winds

Typhoon Haiyan Appeal |�Australian Nursing & Midwifery Federation

Typhoon Haiyan Appeal |�Australian Nursing & Midwifery Federation: Red Cross staff and volunteers are on the ground in the disaster-affected communities, helping people evacuate and providing emergency first aid and relief supplies, such as food, water and shelter.

An Australian Red Cross logistics expert headed to the hardest hit regions immediately to help coordinate the relief effort, and more disaster management experts are on standby.

Typhoon Haiyan Aid Efforts Complicated by Storm's Destruction - ABC News

Typhoon Haiyan Aid Efforts Complicated by Storm's Destruction - ABC News: Authorities working to account for the tens of thousands of people missing in wake of Typhoon Haiyan are also facing the challenge of getting desperately needed aid into a region devastated by one of the most powerful storms in history.

"Many lives were lost, a huge number of people are missing, and basic services such as drinking water and electricity have been cut off," Sebastien Sujobert, head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) office in Tacloban, said in a statement.

Aid efforts begin after typhoon Haiyan kills 10,000 in Philippines – Sunday's developments | World news | theguardian.com

Aid efforts begin after typhoon Haiyan kills 10,000 in Philippines – Sunday's developments | World news | theguardian.com: Aid efforts begin after typhoon Haiyan kills 10,000 in Philippines – Sunday's developments

Super Typhoon Haiyan Slams Philippines; Heifer Mobilizing Teams to Aid Those Affected | Heifer International | Charity Ending Hunger And Poverty

Super Typhoon Haiyan Slams Philippines; Heifer Mobilizing Teams to Aid Those Affected | Heifer International | Charity Ending Hunger And Poverty: UPDATE (SUNDAY 1 p.m.) Heifer has successfully contacted all our central Philippines staff in the wake of super typhoon Haiyan, and they are all OK, however it is becoming clearer that our project areas were devastated by the force of the storm.

Heifer now knows that virtually all of our farming families in the direct line of the typhoon—about 4,000 people—will need immediate assistance. We will supplement the efforts of government and relief agencies with food, water and roofing materials to help meet basic shelter needs.

Typhoon Haiyan slams into northern Vietnam - CBS News

Typhoon Haiyan slams into northern Vietnam - CBS News: In the Philippines, the government and international relief agencies were trying to get emergency aid to the worst-hit areas. On Leyte Island, as many as 10,000 people were feared dead in Tacloban, the provincial capital.

President Barack Obama pledged U.S. aid in the wake of the typhoon, which is known as Yolanda under the Philippine naming system.

AGFUND pledges aid for Philippine typhoon victims | Arab News — Saudi Arabia News, Middle East News, Opinion, Economy and more.

AGFUND pledges aid for Philippine typhoon victims | Arab News — Saudi Arabia News, Middle East News, Opinion, Economy and more.: Prince Talal bin Abdul Aziz has announced that Arab Gulf Program for Development (AGFUND) would donate $100,000 in relief to the victims of Typhoon Haiyan in the central Philippines.
The donation is the first from the Gulf to one of the world’s worst catastrophes, which has killed more than 10,000 people.

Typhoon Haiyan Death Toll Tops 10,000, According To Official Estimates

Typhoon Haiyan Death Toll Tops 10,000, According To Official Estimates: Super typhoon Haiyan destroyed about 70 to 80 percent of structures in its path as it tore through Leyte province on Friday, said police chief superintendent Elmer Soria, before weakening and heading west for Vietnam.

As rescue workers struggled to reach ravaged villages along the coast, where the death toll is as yet unknown, survivors foraged for food or searched for lost loved ones.

"People are walking like zombies looking for food," said Jenny Chu, a medical student in Leyte. "It's like a movie."

Irish Government to provide €1m aid to Philippines - RT� News

Irish Government to provide €1m aid to Philippines - RT� News: The Government has announced €1m in emergency funding towards the relief effort in the Philippines following the widespread destruction and loss of life caused by Typhoon Haiyan.

T�naiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Eamon Gilmore said the funding would go towards shelter, food, water and health.

U.S. offers aid, sends teams to help typhoon-ravaged Philippines - CNN.com

U.S. offers aid, sends teams to help typhoon-ravaged Philippines - CNN.com: The U.S. government had pledged an array of support from monetary aid to search-and-rescue missions in the Philippines, helping its longtime ally recover from a massive, devastating typhoon.

The U.S. Agency for International Development, known as USAID, announced Saturday it is immediately making available $100,000 to go for health care, clean water and sanitation to areas hit hard by the devastating storm.

How to help Typhoon Haiyan survivors - CNN.com

How to help Typhoon Haiyan survivors - CNN.com: If you're looking for someone missing in the Philippines, or if you have information about someone there, Google.org has launched the Typhoon Yolanda Person Finder. A Google crisis map has also been added to detail evacuation centers and areas designated for relief.

Charities and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) from around the world are responding to this disaster. Many are detailed below with how they're providing aid and h

Disaster Relief Chartiy on the Ground as Super Typhoon Strikes Philippines - Press Release - Digital Journal

PRESS RELEASE

Disaster Relief Chartiy on the Ground as Super Typhoon Strikes Philippines - Press Release - Digital Journal: WHO: Originally responding to a 7.2-magnitude earthquake that hit last month, international disaster relief organization, ShelterBox, is working in the Philippines as what meteorologists are calling the most powerful storm ever to make landfall approaches.

Philippines Typhoon Haiyan | Oxfam

Philippines Typhoon Haiyan | Oxfam: Typhoon Haiyan hit the Philippines on 8 November 2013.

Around 42,000 families or 210,000 individuals have been affected and are staying in 562 evacuation centres in 22 provinces, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

- Felipe Ramiro, acting country director of Oxfam in the Philippines.

Super Typhoon Haiyan, one of the strongest ever, rips into Philippines - CNN.com

Super Typhoon Haiyan, one of the strongest ever, rips into Philippines - CNN.com: Super Typhoon Haiyan -- one of the strongest storms recorded on the planet -- smashed into island after island as it plowed across the central Philippines on Friday, threatening millions of people.

Super Typhoon Haiyan Threatening Heifer Farmers in the Philippines | Heifer International | Charity Ending Hunger And Poverty

Super Typhoon Haiyan Threatening Heifer Farmers in the Philippines | Heifer International | Charity Ending Hunger And Poverty: Super Typhoon Haiyan Threatening Heifer Farmers in the Philippines



UPDATE (9:15 p.m.):Preliminary damage reports are coming in from the Philippines, and while we are still awaiting word from country staff on how projects are faring, we know winds and rain from typhoon Haiyan are lashing eastern provinces, whipping up 12- to 15-foot waves, and felling trees in others. Communication lines were still operating out of Manila at 7 p.m. local time (9 a.m. in Manila), and we will provide updates on project participants as soon as we have them.

Hitting the Wall - For Marathon Charities, Numbers Are Slowing - NYTimes.com

Hitting the Wall - For Marathon Charities, Numbers Are Slowing - NYTimes.com: y this time of year, the height of fall marathon season, the e-mails have long piled up: marathon aspirants seeking charitable donations from family and friends to help them secure a spot in a particular race. On race days, charity logos on runners’ gear have become as ubiquitous as mile markers, an integral part of an event’s feel-good message of fitness and philanthropy.

4 Charity Lessons From Superstorm Sandy - Forbes

4 Charity Lessons From Superstorm Sandy - Forbes: t’s been a year since Superstorm Sandy killed more than 150 people, caused a million others in a dozen states to evacuate their homes and unleashed $65 billion worth of damage. So I thought this would be an apt time to review how charities served Sandy’s victims and see what lessons we can learn about making wise charitable donations when future disasters hit.

A Nonprofit Pushes to Make Legal Aid Key Part of Disaster Services - News - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

A Nonprofit Pushes to Make Legal Aid Key Part of Disaster Services - News - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: Many people who suffered the wrath of Superstorm Sandy have spent the last year trying to make sense of a bewildering array of aid programs, fighting with their insurance companies, and scrambling to keep up with mortgage payments even as they make costly repairs.

Now the New York Legal Assistance Group, an organization that has worked hand-in-hand with storm victims to try to make the arduous road to recovery a little easier, is doing all it can to get charities, grant makers, and government to think about legal aid almost in the same way it thinks about the Red Cross: an essential nonprofit service that starts work right after a disaster strikes.

Tracking the Federal Sandy Aid Money One Year Later - NJ Spotlight

Tracking the Federal Sandy Aid Money One Year Later - NJ Spotlight: The Obama administration's $60.4 billion emergency funding request to Congress last December stated that part of the money for recovery and rebuilding should be used "to help the region prepare for future challenges, including future severe storms and coastal flooding, as well as impacts associated with a changing climate."

Displaced New Jersey Residents Not Impressed by Sandy Recovery Efforts, Survey Finds | PND | Foundation Center

Displaced New Jersey Residents Not Impressed by Sandy Recovery Efforts, Survey Finds | PND | Foundation Center: Displaced New Jersey Residents Not Impressed by Sandy Recovery Efforts, Survey Finds

Few New Jersey residents displaced by Superstorm Sandy a year ago feel they are close to full recovery, while most feel they have been overlooked by the state's post-Sandy efforts, a survey by the Monmouth University Polling Institute finds.

Perspective: How My Firm Saved Brooklyn Bridge Park From Sandy's Fury | Co.Design | business design

Perspective: How My Firm Saved Brooklyn Bridge Park From Sandy's Fury | Co.Design | business design: Perspective: How My Firm Saved Brooklyn Bridge Park From Sandy's Fury

Is 3D Printing the Future of Disaster Relief? | Motherboard

Is 3D Printing the Future of Disaster Relief? | Motherboard: But advocates for the technology say that it's only a matter of time before we're shipping raw materials and 3D printers instead of medical supplies to the site of a disaster. 3D printers are already being used in the medical field to create customized tracheal valves, umbilical cord clamps, splints, and even blood vessels. A group in Haiti is already using the umbilical cord clamps to show locals the potential for the technology. And it's only a matter of time before they get deployed in a disaster scenario, according to Thomas Campbell, a Virginia Tech professor and senior fellow at the Atlantic Council.

Red Cross Agrees to Changes in Disaster Solicitations - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Red Cross Agrees to Changes in Disaster Solicitations - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: Following criticism of its spending of Hurricane Sandy relief funds, the American Red Cross will make changes aimed at avoiding donor confusion over how it uses money raised in the wake of major disasters, the Associated Press reports.

Under an agreement with New York’s attorney general, the charity will modify the language of online appeals to give contributors more information about whether their gifts will go directly to victims of particular disaster or finance general Red Cross operations.

PHILANTHROPY 2173: Data-informed resiliency

PHILANTHROPY 2173: Data-informed resiliency: What data do cities already collect that, with the proper foresight and integration, could be useful in disasters? And how can they collect, use, and share the data in ways that protect personal privacy and that best serve the poor, infirm, and elderly (as opposed to discriminating against them)?

Alberta Flood Aid raises nearly 2.2 million dollars through benefit concert - Financial and Business News - MENAFN

PRESS RELEASE
Alberta Flood Aid raises nearly 2.2 million dollars through benefit concert - Financial and Business News - MENAFN: CALGARY, Oct. 17, 2013 (Menafn - Canada NewsWire via COMTEX) --On Thursday, August 15, 2013, 32,000 music lovers joined together at McMahon Stadium in Calgary for Alberta Flood Aid, a star-studded benefit concert to raise much-needed funds for flood recovery in southern Alberta. Thanks to an enormous outpouring of support, nearly 2.2 million was raised.

This memorable night in music history, hosted by Brent Butt featured legendary artists including; Nickelback, Jann Arden, Randy Bachman, Tom Cochrane, Matthew Good, Colin James, Loverboy, Corb Lund, Johnny Reid, The Sadies, The Sheepdogs and Ian Tyson donating their time and services to contribute to the effort. TELUS funded the live, online broadcast of the concert for viewers across Canada free of charge.

Poor suffer digital deficit in disasters - Red Cross

Poor suffer digital deficit in disasters - Red Cross: In its annual World Disasters Report, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) charts the revolutionary impact of technology on humanitarian aid, but also explores the barriers to its adoption.

From text message warnings about coming storms and mobile apps telling survivors where to find relief, to online services that map needs in crises and digital collection of data on health or displaced families, the global expansion of mobile telephones and the internet has enabled two-way communication between people hit by disasters and the aid workers who help them.

Social media, crisis mapping and the new frontier in disaster response | Global Development Professionals Network | Guardian Professional

Social media, crisis mapping and the new frontier in disaster response | Global Development Professionals Network | Guardian Professional: Social media, crisis mapping and the new frontier in disaster response

During a crisis the large amounts of data produced can be overwhelming to analyse. Microtasking could help solve that problem by harnessing the power of the crowd

Record smashing swimmer Diana Nyad to swim laps for two days in Herald Square

Record smashing swimmer Diana Nyad to swim laps for two days in Herald Square: Swimming 110 miles from Cuba to Florida was apparently just a warm-up.

Beginning Tuesdayat 8:30 a.m., swimmer Diana Nyad will be swimming for 48 hours straight in a pool set up in Herald Square to support Superstorm Sandy recovery efforts while raising money for AmeriCares, the global health and disaster relief organization.

Report urges extreme weather superfund in wake of Sandy

Report urges extreme weather superfund in wake of Sandy: Escalating costs from weather disasters like superstorm Sandy and the recent Colorado floods show the need for a new national disaster relief and preparation fund, paid for with new revenue including a levy on atmospheric carbon emissions, according to a new report by the New Jersey-based nonprofit group U.S. Strong.

Wireless Developer Network

Wireless Developer Network: A unique SMS-driven fundraiser, has been launched in Russia under the banner “All Together”. The goal of the campaign is to raise funds for families hit by the floods in the Russian Far East. This event proved to be the biggest non-profit campaigns in Europe – more than 9.5 million people took part in it which allowed to raise more than US $ 23 million, and a considerable part of it was raised through SMS. The technical side of the fundraiser was handled by i-Free.

Lowe's Announces $500,000 Grant To First Response Team Of America - PR Newswire - The Sacramento Bee

PRESS RELEASE

Lowe's Announces $500,000 Grant To First Response Team Of America - PR Newswire - The Sacramento Bee: MOORESVILLE, N.C., Oct. 4, 2013 -- /PRNewswire/ -- The Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation today announced a $500,000 grant to the First Response Team of America, a nonprofit organization dedicated to working alongside local agencies to help save lives in the wake of destruction. Lowe's and the First Response Team are currently helping local families and communities recover from the recent flooding in Colorado. Volunteers are delivering critically needed cleaning supplies and assisting residents.

Indian, Nepalese armies carry out joint drill in Uttarakhand - Economic Times

Indian, Nepalese armies carry out joint drill in Uttarakhand - Economic Times: NEW DELHI: Armies of India and Nepal carried out joint disaster relief operations in the Himalayas during exercise 'Surya Kiran' held in Pithoragarh in Uttarakhand, which was recently devastated by heavy rains and floods.

Crowded field shuts charity out of next year’s marathon | Boston Herald

Crowded field shuts charity out of next year’s marathon | Boston Herald: But the foundation has been unable to get approval from either the BAA or marathon sponsor John Hancock to acquire race bibs for a charity team. In fact, at present, the BAA has not yet approved any bibs for any charity that supports those killed or injured in the blasts.

“We were approached by the families and friends of some of the victims who wanted to run for the foundation,” Hill told the Track. “We applied to John Hancock for bibs, and since it appears as though the charities are arbitrarily chosen, it seems odd that they wouldn’t choose a foundation that helps marathon victims.”

Earthquake: Food supplies and tents reach Awaran – The Express Tribune

Earthquake: Food supplies and tents reach Awaran – The Express Tribune: ore than 328 people have died and hundreds of others have been injured because of the 7.8-magnitude earthquake that hit Balochistan on September 24, Express News reported on Wednesday.

Around 208 people died in the Awaran district alone. It is feared that the death toll will continue to rise as many people are reportedly trapped under rubble.

USAID’s Office of Transition Initiatives Closes in Haiti and Celebrates Hundreds of Community Achievements | ReliefWeb

USAID’s Office of Transition Initiatives Closes in Haiti and Celebrates Hundreds of Community Achievements | ReliefWeb: The Haiti Recovery Initiative is among the U.S. Government’s biggest earthquake response programs, and throughout its entire lifetime, the program has remained committed to helping Haitians rebuild their communities and work with national and local leadership to prioritize and respond to community needs,” said Ambassador White at the closing event.

USAID/OTI’s $155 million program supported the U.S. Government earthquake recovery efforts in Haiti in the regions of Port-au-Prince, Saint Marc and Cap Haitien.

Hell or High Water rodeo raises cash, spirits for flood victims

Hell or High Water rodeo raises cash, spirits for flood victims: Hell or High Water rodeo raises cash, spirits for flood victims

Disaster relief funding in the spotlight

Disaster relief funding in the spotlight: A Griffith University researcher wants to investigate whether government disaster relief funding has made a south Brisbane suburb better prepared for major flooding.

Rocklea was one of the worst-hit Brisbane suburbs during the 2010-11 floods, with the Brisbane Market inundated and an estimated 900 properties affected.

Boulder Trying To Help Flood Victims Rebuild Faster � CBS Denver

Boulder Trying To Help Flood Victims Rebuild Faster � CBS Denver

Students volunteer time for flood relief: How to get involved | CU Independent

Students volunteer time for flood relief: How to get involved | CU Independent: CU’s Volunteer Resource Center has partnered with CU Student Government and Boulder Flood Relief, an organization working to coordinate volunteers, to gather donations and provide assistance to flood victims.

Megan Frewaldt, assistant director of the Volunteer Resource Center, said the center and Boulder Flood Relief are going house-to-house asking people what they need.

Property losses from Colorado flood projected at about $2 billion | Reuters

Property losses from Colorado flood projected at about $2 billion | Reuters: Property losses from deadly flooding in Colorado will total nearly $2 billion, about half from housing and half from the commercial and government sectors, catastrophe modeling firm Eqecat said on Wednesday in the first comprehensive estimate of the disaster's economic toll.

Colorado Flood Crisis: Relief Staff Headed to Disaster Area

Colorado Flood Crisis: Relief Staff Headed to Disaster Area: As rescue efforts continue for survivors in flood-ravaged Colorado, AmeriCares is deploying relief staff to the hardest hit areas, to assess immediate needs and connect with partner organizations helping communities suffering amid the devastation.

Colorado Flooding Forces More Evacuations - WSJ.com

Colorado Flooding Forces More Evacuations - WSJ.com: heriff Pelle called the scale of the disaster "unprecedented" and expressed concern about remote areas without sewer services, water, or electricity.

"We don't know about lives lost, homes lost, people stranded in many of our canyon communities," he said, saying that assessment could take days. "We have lost every roadway leading to the western end of our county."

Southern AZ Red Cross sending aid to Colorado - Tucson News Now

Southern AZ Red Cross sending aid to Colorado - Tucson News Now: The Southern Arizona Chapter of the American Red Cross is sending aid to Denver, Colo., to assist those affected from recent flooding.

Colorado: Another deluge, no relief from epic flooding - Washington Times

Colorado: Another deluge, no relief from epic flooding - Washington Times: An estimated 1,250 people were unaccounted for after five days of heavy rain flooded highways, collapsed bridges and engulfed houses along Colorado’s Front Range and foothills. The death toll rose to six after a woman’s house was swept away by flooding.

Donation center set to open in Loveland; items and volunteers needed | The Coloradoan | coloradoan.com

Donation center set to open in Loveland; items and volunteers needed | The Coloradoan | coloradoan.com: An official donation list and volunteer needs will be posted at www.ci.loveland.co.us early this week. The center, located in Building D of Agilent Technolgies, 900 S. Taft, is being managed by city of Loveland staff with the advisement of Adventist Community Services Disaster Relief, which helped manage a similar center for fire survivors last year.

Boulder flood relief volunteers not yet wanted, but there are ways to help - Boulder Daily Camera

Boulder flood relief volunteers not yet wanted, but there are ways to help - Boulder Daily Camera:T he Boulder Office of Emergency Management is not currently asking for flood relief volunteers, and potential helping hands are being told to avoid disaster sites so as not to interfere with response efforts.

"The biggest help we can get is for people to remain calm and stay home so our first responders can get into the community and help get things understood and under control.

Colorado floods relief: How to help victims, those affected - The Denver Post

Colorado floods relief: How to help victims, those affected - The Denver Post: With recent floods impacting communities all across Colorado, there's several ways you can contribute to the disaster relief efforts. Dozens of charities and nonprofits are accepting donations.

But it's also important to know scams are out there.

If you have any concerns about the group you might be donating to visit the Colorado Secretary of State's website: http://www.sos.state.co.us/ccsa/CcsaInquiryMain.do

Verizon Awards $20,000 Disaster Relief Grant to the American Red Cross for Colorado flood victims | Justmeans

Verizon Awards $20,000 Disaster Relief Grant to the American Red Cross for Colorado flood victims | Justmeans:September 13, 2013 /3BL Media/ - What: The Verizon Foundation today approved a $20,000 disaster relief grant to the American Red Cross to support the agency’s relief efforts for Colorado residents. The grant will help those Coloradoans affected by the devastating flood waters in Boulder County and other parts of the state.

The company also activated its mobile giving program so Verizon customers can use their mobile phones to donate to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief fund to help those affected by the catastrophic flooding.

US spent $62bn on disaster relief - DAWN.COM

US spent $62bn on disaster relief - DAWN.COM: WASHINGTON, Sept 12: The US government spent nearly $62 billion on disaster relief in the two-year period ending Sept. 30, 2012, to help Americans recover from severe storms, droughts, heat waves and wildfires, a new analysis of federal data has found.

Colorado flooding worsens, forces thousands more to flee - chicagotribune.com

Colorado flooding worsens, forces thousands more to flee - chicagotribune.com: looding that killed at least three people in Colorado, toppling buildings and stranding drivers, worsened overnight as record rains pounded the state, forcing thousands more residents to flee to higher ground, officials said.

The unusual late-summer downpours drenched Colorado's biggest urban centers, stretching 130 miles along the eastern slopes of the Rockies from Fort Collins near

President Obama Signs Colorado Emergency Declaration � CBS Denver

President Obama Signs Colorado Emergency Declaration � CBS Denver: President Barack Obama declared an emergency exists in Colorado. He ordered federal aid to supplement state and local response efforts due to severe storms, flooding and mudslides.

The president’s action authorizes the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to coordinate all disaster relief efforts.

Colorado flooding cuts rescuers off from stranded towns - CNN.com

Colorado flooding cuts rescuers off from stranded towns - CNN.com: The widespread flash flooding washed out roads, pushed dams to their limits and beyond, and killed at least three people along Colorado's Rocky Mountain range, from Boulder south to Colorado Springs.

Red Cross Responds To Floods, Wildfires Out West

Red Cross Responds To Floods, Wildfires Out West: he American Red Cross is responding to flooding and wildfires in the west while keeping an eye on tropical storms which could affect weather in the south over the next few days.

FLOODING Heavy rains are causing flooding in Colorado, Nebraska, Arizona, Utah and New Mexico. In Colorado, the Mile High Red Cross Chapter opened shelters for evacuees after heavy rains caused flooding in Larimer, Weld, Boulder and Jefferson counties. Government offices, businesses and schools are closed and about 200 people were forced to evacuate from the University of Boulder campus.

Boulder Flood

Emergency Status: 9-12-2013 10:45am Animal Evacuation Update


The Boulder Valley Humane Society is open and accepting animals for evacuated residents. HSBV is accepting dogs, cats and other small animals. They are located at 2323 55th St in Boulder and can be reached at 303-442-4030. Boulder Humane is open until 7:00 pm.

The Longmont Humane Society is open and accepting dogs, cats and other small animals. They are located at 9595 Nelson Road in Longmont. They can be reached at 303-772-1232 extension 248 for the front desk. Longmont Humane is open until 6:00 pm.

The Boulder County Fairgrounds is open and accepting Livestock. They are located at 9595 Nelson Road in Longmont.

For any other inquiries or information, please call the Emergency Call Center at 303-413-7730.

Colorado Flash Flood: Heavy Rains In Boulder Claim At Least 1 Life (VIDEO/PHOTOS)

Colorado Flash Flood: Heavy Rains In Boulder Claim At Least 1 Life (VIDEO/PHOTOS): flash flood hit Boulder, Colo., early Thursday morning, killing at least one person, The Denver Post reported.

The National Weather Service declared a flash flood emergency through 4:15 a.m. after a long evening of rain caused area waterways to overflow. Four to six inches of rain has fallen on the area since mid-day Wednesday, the weather service said.

Quake Prevention Beats Quake Relief | TIME.com

Quake Prevention Beats Quake Relief | TIME.com: No would doubt that victims—often injured and homeless—need immediate help after something as catastrophic as a major quake. But as Brian Tucker, the president of the earthquake consultancy GeoHazards International, points out in a piece in Science, some of that money would do far more good if it could be spent preparing a city or country before disaster strikes. “We can significantly reduce the death rate from natural disasters,” says Tucker. “But we need to increase the proportion of investment we make in preparedness.

Canada: Calgary flood damages now estimated at $436.5 million | Business Insurance

Canada: Calgary flood damages now estimated at $436.5 million | Business Insurance: Damages from the recent floods in the Canadian city of Calgary total an estimated $460 million Canadian ($436.5 million), including damages related to city-owned assets and infrastructure, a new report prepared for the Mayor said.

Recipe for disaster | Our View | EDITORIAL

Recipe for disaster | Our View | EDITORIAL: Towards dealing with disasters, the Nepal Risk Reduction Consortium, a unique mechanism that brings together state agencies, financial institutions and international aid organisations, has drafted a National Disaster Response Framework, which outlines actions to be taken before, during and after a crisis. A

Japan’s New Donation Culture | Nippon.com

Japan’s New Donation Culture | Nippon.com: ccording to the calculations of the Japan Fundraising Association, a total of around �600 billion in donations were collected after the Great East Japan Earthquake that struck on March 11, 2011—roughly the same amount of donations normally made during an entire year in Japan. Moreover, across Japan more than 85 million people, or 76.9% of the population over 15 years of age (as of 2011), made monetary or material donations in response to the disaster. A survey of some of these donors revealed that around 80% agreed more or less with the statement that “charitable donations are a way to contribute to society.”

Let's rebuild together, responsibly | Letters | Carstairs Courier

Let's rebuild together, responsibly | Letters | Carstairs Courier: With the flood waters receding and families picking through the ruins of their homes, Alberta’s government has pledged at least $1 billion in disaster relief. It will come as a surprise to everyone if the final bill isn’t a lot higher than that.

The flood devastated my own community of Bowness, yet volunteers arrived in droves with shovels and goodwill to help their neighbours. At the height of the flood, Calgarians patrolled the streets in neighbourhood watches and helped each other in countless acts of good deeds

Disaster-relief vending machines on the rise - The Japan News

Disaster-relief vending machines on the rise - The Japan News: When the Great East Japan Earthquake hit on March 11, 2011, Coca-Cola Japan Co. took advantage of the remote control functions on about 400 disaster-relief vending machines, equipped with batteries for backup, in the Tokyo metropolitan area and other locations.

The Tokyo-headquartered company offered more than 88,000 of its beverages for free to people who had difficulty returning home in the aftermath of the disaster.

The company said it later received words of gratitude such as, “It was nice to get a hot drink for free in such a cold situation.”

New class gives Gulfport students experience in disaster relief - WLOX.com - The News for South Mississippi

New class gives Gulfport students experience in disaster relief - WLOX.com - The News for South Mississippi: GULFPORT, MS (WLOX) -

Gulfport students have a unique opportunity this year to take a more active role in disaster recovery. Gulfport High is the only school in Mississippi chosen to launch a study on how disasters affect people, especially children. The project will take teens into the community.

They were only eight-years-old when Hurricane Katrina struck.

Flooded town says it can't take any more donations:no space to store it

Flooded town says it can't take any more donations:no space to store it: HIGH RIVER, Alta. - The southern Alberta town that everyone had to leave due to flooding says it will no longer take donations of goods because it has run out of storage space.

High River said in an email Tuesday that it appreciates the generosity and overwhelming support it has received since the devastating flood in June.

China braces for typhoon as flood toll rises - Channel NewsAsia

China braces for typhoon as flood toll rises - Channel NewsAsia: China braced itself for the arrival of Typhoon Trami on Wednesday with emergency officials making disaster relief preparations, as the country recovered from severe weather which left more than 150 people dead.

Mobile phones, social media to be utilized in Nankai Trough quake | GlobalPost

Mobile phones, social media to be utilized in Nankai Trough quake | GlobalPost: The land ministry is considering utilizing information collected through mobile phones and social media to keep track of disaster information in the event of a major earthquake occurring in the Nankai Trough off central and western Japan, a draft interim report showed Sunday.

New Zealand quake city opens cardboard cathedral

New Zealand quake city opens cardboard cathedral: Christchurch's cardboard cathedral officially opens on Thursday, replacing the neo-Gothic structure destroyed in a 2011 earthquake that killed 185 people in New Zealand's second largest city.

Participants start pedaling for flood delayed fundraiser ride | CTV Calgary News

Participants start pedaling for flood delayed fundraiser ride | CTV Calgary News: More than 1,600 cyclists made their way through Calgary streets, and highways south of the city, for Saturday’s fifth annual Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer fundraiser.

June’s record flooding forced organizers to switch the date for the two-day ride which will see participants cycling a distance of 200 kilometres between Calgary and Okotoks and back to Calgary.

Calgary Distress Centre prepares for long-term flood effects - Calgary - CBC News

Calgary Distress Centre prepares for long-term flood effects - Calgary - CBC News: The Distress Centre in Calgary is recruiting more volunteers for its crisis line to help address an influx of calls from flood victims.

The centre has already seen a 38 per cent jump since floodwater ripped through many Calgary communities last month.

N.Y. Attorney General Questions Charities on Sandy Spending - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

N.Y. Attorney General Questions Charities on Sandy Spending - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: A review of Hurricane Sandy aid by New York’s attorney general found that as of late March, nonprofit groups had yet to disburse more than 40 percent of the $575-million in donations they received to aid storm victims, writes The New York Times.

Prince George's water outage like a 'natural disaster' - WTOP.com

Prince George's water outage like a 'natural disaster' - WTOP.com: ore than 150,000 Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission customers are affected, but the impact is much greater since a customer may be an individual home or business.

"This is an unprecedented situation in terms of the scope and size," said Scott Petersen, a spokesman for Prince George's County Executive Rushern Baker, on WTOP.

"It is the equivalent of a natural disaster hitting the county," said Petersen.

4 Questions about Disaster Philanthropy for Bob Ottenhoff | Arabella Advisors

4 Questions about Disaster Philanthropy for Bob Ottenhoff | Arabella Advisors: Bob Ottenhoff is the inaugural president and CEO of the Center for Disaster Philanthropy (CDP), which provides tools, expert analysis, and strategic guidance to maximize the effectiveness of donations to disaster relief and recovery. Recently, the Chronicle of Philanthropy recognized the launch of CDP as one of the “Five Nonprofit High Points of 2012.” We spoke to Bob about what donors really need to know to respond to and plan for a disaster

Where Do the Homeless Flee in a Flood? | Mariah Griffin-Angus

Where Do the Homeless Flee in a Flood? | Mariah Griffin-Angus: As I watched well-dressed pedestrians scramble for sanctuary, I suddenly thought of the many men I knew who had no place to go. Toronto has a huge homeless problem and on the best of days it is hard for many to get a shelter bed or a safe place to spend the day. And as water flooded the underpasses and drenched the suits of bankers, I wondered who was making room for the homeless?

China sends relief teams to rainstorm-hit regions |Society |chinadaily.com.cn

China sends relief teams to rainstorm-hit regions |Society |chinadaily.com.cn: BEIJING - Central authorities have dispatched disaster survey and relief teams to rainstorm-hit regions in North China's Shanxi province and Northwest China's Shaanxi province, the Ministry of Civil Affairs said in a statement on Sunday.

Rush donating concert money to Canada flood relief | Showbiz | News | Daily Express

Rush donating concert money to Canada flood relief | Showbiz | News | Daily Express: Canadian rockers RUSH have pledged to hand over the money raised from an upcoming show in Alberta to a flood relief fund for locals.

Left in Typhoon Soulik's wake, heavy damage to crops, schools - Taiwan News Online

Left in Typhoon Soulik's wake, heavy damage to crops, schools - Taiwan News Online: phoon Soulik caused severe damage to Taiwan's agricultural sector, with losses estimated at nearly NT$500 million (US$16.75 million) as of Monday, according to the Council of Agriculture (COA). As of 11 a.m., aggregate crop and private agricultural facility losses totaled an estimated NT$492.98 million, COA officials said. The figure included NT$446.68 million in agricultural produce losses, NT$6.66 million in livestock, aquaculture and forestry losses, and NT$39.64 million in damage to facilities.

Storm lashes east with rain and wind | South China Morning Post

Storm lashes east with rain and wind | South China Morning Post: he nation's east was lashed yesterday by torrential downpours from Typhoon Soulik, which forced the evacuation of half a million people after killing two people in Taiwan.

Soulik whipped coastal Fujian with winds of 118km/h when it made landfall on Saturday but weakened to a tropical depression as it moved inland, reaching Jiangxi province early yesterday, the China Meteorological Administration said.

More than half a million people were evacuated from Fujian and Zhejiang as Soulik approached, with 5,500 soldiers poised to carry out relief work.