PHOTOS: Isaac response in Mississippi � American Red Cross Disaster Newsroom

PHOTOS: Isaac response in Mississippi � American Red Cross Disaster Newsroom: AmeriCorps worker Ally Ramirez carries a Red Cross disaster clean-up kit during the Hurricane Isaac disaster relief supply distribution in Pascagoula, Mississippi. Disaster partner organizations like AmeriCorps are working with the Red Cross to bring emergency relief to families across the northern Gulf Coast following Hurricane Isaac. Photo credit: Talia Frenkel/American Red Cross

Disaster relief sluggish for thousands without power | Daily World | dailyworld.com

Disaster relief sluggish for thousands without power | Daily World | dailyworld.com: More than 2,800 people were at shelters in Louisiana, down from around 4,000. State officials were uncertain how many people would eventually need longer-term temporary housing. Kevin Davis, head of the state's emergency office, said housing would likely include hotels at first, then rental homes as close as possible to their damaged property.

Local Red Cross Volunteer Remembers Helping in Katrina - WLNS TV 6 Lansing - Jackson | Your Local News Leader

Local Red Cross Volunteer Remembers Helping in Katrina - WLNS TV 6 Lansing - Jackson | Your Local News Leader: Volunteers from Mid-Michigan are already down at the Gulf coast, ready to help with hurricane relief efforts.

Almost seven years ago to the day, Gloria Andrews signed up through the Red Cross to go help with Hurricane Katrina relief efforts.

Local NGOs propose disaster-relief body for entire East Asia - Taipei Times

Local NGOs propose disaster-relief body for entire East Asia - Taipei Times: Reacting to the rise in frequency of natural disasters affecting East Asian countries, local non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have proposed setting up a coordination platform for disaster relief in Taiwan, a Ministry of Foreign Affairs official said yesterday.

Google launches crisis map anticipating hurricane Isaac | Fox News

Google launches crisis map anticipating hurricane Isaac | Fox News: To do its part, Google has launched the new website aggregating info on tropical storm Isaac as part of its Crisis Response project.

Isaac: A Chance for Government to Rebuild Public Trust? - NPQ – Nonprofit Quarterly - Promoting an active and engaged democracy.

Isaac: A Chance for Government to Rebuild Public Trust? - NPQ – Nonprofit Quarterly - Promoting an active and engaged democracy.: Tropical Storm Isaac only lightly brushed by Florida, though the Republican National Convention convened and then recessed due to the completely understandable caution that Tampa could have been hit. The path of the storm (which may become a hurricane) is heading along the path that looks just like the Hurricane Katrina vector, straight for Louisiana and the Mississippi gulf coast. Isaac isn’t expected to be as strong as Katrina (much less Katrina combined with Wilma, which also took a huge toll, particularly in Louisiana’s rural areas), but it is slow moving and loaded with tons of rain. Flooding in the low-lying areas of the coast is a distinct possibility if the storm’s impact on Haiti over the weekend is any guide. Nonprofits World Vision and Doctors without borders are reporting on the impact of the storm on Haiti. World Vision has noted the number of homes in Cite Soleil that lost their roofs or were flooded, and Doctors Without Borders is predicting an increase in cholera cases.

Obama signs declaration for FEMA disaster relief - WAFB 9 News Baton Rouge, Louisiana News, Weather, Sports

Obama signs declaration for FEMA disaster relief - WAFB 9 News Baton Rouge, Louisiana News, Weather, Sports: BATON ROUGE, LA (WAFB) - President Obama signed an emergency disaster declaration which will allow Louisiana to use federal aid to help with local response efforts to Tropical Storm Isaac.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) says the authorization will coordinate relief efforts and provide federal funds for local emergency and relief efforts. FEMA says the measure authorizes the use of "equipment and resources necessary to alleviate the impacts of the emergency."

Tropical Storm Isaac Deepens Man-Made Housing Disaster in Haiti - The ITT List

Tropical Storm Isaac Deepens Man-Made Housing Disaster in Haiti - The ITT List: he AP is reporting that the death toll in Haiti from Tropical Storm Isaac this weekend has now risen to 19. Long-displaced earthquake victims were evacuated from the makeshift camps where they’ve resided since 2010, and several died when their houses collapsed on them. As relief efforts get under way, housing rights advocates are emphasizing that Haitians’ ongoing vulnerability to natural disasters represents a man-made failure.

Baptist Press - Isaac disaster relief prep focuses on Gulf Coast - News with a Christian Perspective

Baptist Press - Isaac disaster relief prep focuses on Gulf Coast - News with a Christian Perspective: With Tropical Storm Isaac continuing to churn toward landfall as a potential hurricane on Tuesday night or Wednesday morning -- somewhere along the Louisiana and Mississippi Coasts -- Southern Baptist Disaster Relief leaders already are planning where major storm responses will be deployed.

OUR OPINION: Reform the ‘disaster’ of Minnesota’s disaster aid | Grand Forks Herald | Grand Forks, North Dakota

OUR OPINION: Reform the ‘disaster’ of Minnesota’s disaster aid | Grand Forks Herald | Grand Forks, North Dakota: The League is famous for its fiscal conservatism and might have been expected to call for ending disaster relief altogether. But Krinkie’s most recent column doesn’t go there.

Instead, the former Republican state legislator recounts the report’s findings and supports its recommendations.

That’s because right now, the aid process is “a hodge-podge of state and local government programs as well as non-profit agencies working to provide disaster relief services,” Krinkie writes.

And as long Minnesota’s going to be in the disaster-relief business, it might as well do the job right.

“Even in your desire to help others, you need to include accountability,” Krinkie writes.

Here’s a quote from the auditor’s report that captures its basic findings:

Crowdsourcing Community-Based Disaster Relief in Indonesia | iRevolution

Crowdsourcing Community-Based Disaster Relief in Indonesia | iRevolution: Crowdsourcing Community-Based Disaster Relief in Indonesia
Posted on August 21, 2012 | 5 Comments

I just came across a very neat example of crowdsourced, community-based crisis response in this excellent report by the BBC World Service Trust: “Still Left in the Dark? How People in Emergencies Use Communication to Survive—And How Humanitarian Agencies Can Help.” I plan to provide a detailed summary of this important report in a forthcoming blog post. In the meantime, this very neat example below (taken directly from said BBC report) is well worth sharing.

Commission publishes new guidance on disaster relief appeals

Commission publishes new guidance on disaster relief appeals: The Charity Commission has published new guidance on starting, running and supporting charitable disaster appeals.

It is intended to provide information and advice to charities as well as members of the public who want to give much needed help to people affected by a disaster or other humanitarian crisis.

The public’s natural reaction to a disaster is to do as much as possible to help, as quickly as possible.

Organizations help residents with disaster relief� - State News - Charleston Daily Mail - West Virginia News and Sports -

Organizations help residents with disaster relief� - State News - Charleston Daily Mail - West Virginia News and Sports -: CHARLESTON, W.Va. - West Virginia Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster assist in times of need by finding and stretching resources without duplicating services.

"I enjoy helping people and working with the different organizations," said Jenny Gannaway, state chairwoman.

In the wake of any disaster, it is a blessing to see families receive assistance that otherwise would not be available, she said.

Colo. Charities to Get First Funds to Aid Shooting Victims by Week’s End - News - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Colo. Charities to Get First Funds to Aid Shooting Victims by Week’s End - News - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: With more than $2-million raised for the victims of Friday morning’s shooting rampage at a movie theater in Aurora, Colo., the Community First Foundation, the main local organization collecting donations, plans to give the first $100,000 raised, plus an additional $100,000 from the foundation, to local charities by the end of this week.

Sky News: Disaster relief lessons shared

Sky News: Disaster relief lessons shared: Australian army chiefs are sharing their know-how with other defence forces across the Asia-Pacific, to improve responses and recoveries in disaster relief operations.

Japan Society Allocates Additional $2.1 Million with 5th Round of Earthquake Relief Grants: Press: About: Japan Society

Japan Society Allocates Additional $2.1 Million with 5th Round of Earthquake Relief Grants: Press: About: Japan Society: Japan Society Allocates Additional $2.1 Million with 5th Round of Earthquake Relief Grants
July 9, 2012

New York, NY – Japan Society announced today the fifth round of grants from the Japan Earthquake Relief Fund (JERF), supporting eight organizations, seven of which are first-time grantees. With additional grants totaling $2,131,000, this latest announcement brings total allocations from the $12.9 million fund to $9.4 million distributed to 27 org

FEMA: Apply For Assistance

FEMA: Apply For Assistance

Clinton-Bush fund puts $2.6 million into Haiti - Businessweek

Clinton-Bush fund puts $2.6 million into Haiti - Businessweek: nonprofit set up by former U.S. Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush has issued nearly $2.6 million in loans and grants to help Haitian businesses and job training programs.

Waldo Canyon Fire Explodes: More Than 32,000 Ordered To Flee Colo. Wildfire

Waldo Canyon Fire Explodes: More Than 32,000 Ordered To Flee Colo. Wildfire: Officials don't know how many houses have been destroyed in the towering blaze that has forced mandatory evacuations for more than 32,000 residents, Colorado Springs emergency management director Brett Waters said. Among those urgently evacuated Tuesday evening were residents at the U.S. Air Force Academy.

Hindu Temple Faces Fine Over Tsunami Donations

Hindu Temple Faces Fine Over Tsunami Donations: A Hindu temple has been fined $301,869 by the Canada Revenue Agency for sending money to "non-qualified donees," which include a group that Ottawa alleges was part of a support network for the Tamil Tigers.

The Hindu Mission of Mississauga, which is a registered charity, sent money to an overseas charity in the aftermath of the December 2004 tsunami, which devastated part of Sri Lanka.