Postbulletin.com: Rochester, MN

Postbulletin.com: Rochester, MN: "As of Thursday afternoon, the American Red Cross had delivered about 250 meals and snacks to the victims of Wednesday night's tornado through north Austin."

IRIN Global | Asia East Africa Global Great Lakes Horn of Africa Middle East North America Southern Africa West Africa | Afghanistan Angola Bangladesh Burkina Faso Burundi Benin IRIN Blog Botswana DRC Central African Republic Congo Cote d'Ivoire Cameroon Comoros Cape Verde Djibouti Egypt Eritrea Ethiopia Gabon Ghana Gambia Guinea Equatorial Guinea Guinea-Bissau Haiti Indonesia Israel Iraq Iran Jordan Kenya Kyrgyzstan Cambodia Kazakhstan Laos Lebanon Sri Lanka Liberia Lesotho Madagascar Mali Myanmar Mauritania Mauritius Malawi Mozambique Namibia Niger Nigeria Nepal OPT Papua New Guinea Philippines Pakistan Rwanda Seychelles Sudan Sierra Leone Senegal Somalia Sao Tome and Principe Swaziland Turkmenistan Chad Togo Thailand Tajikistan Timor-Leste Tanzania United Arab Emirates Uganda Uzbekistan Vietnam Western Sahara Yemen South Africa Zambia Zimbabwe | GLOBAL: Investment key to disaster preparedness | Economy Environment Natural Disasters | News Item

IRIN Global | Asia East Africa Global Great Lakes Horn of Africa Middle East North America Southern Africa West Africa | Afghanistan Angola Bangladesh Burkina Faso Burundi Benin IRIN Blog Botswana DRC Central African Republic Congo Cote d'Ivoire Cameroon Comoros Cape Verde Djibouti Egypt Eritrea Ethiopia Gabon Ghana Gambia Guinea Equatorial Guinea Guinea-Bissau Haiti Indonesia Israel Iraq Iran Jordan Kenya Kyrgyzstan Cambodia Kazakhstan Laos Lebanon Sri Lanka Liberia Lesotho Madagascar Mali Myanmar Mauritania Mauritius Malawi Mozambique Namibia Niger Nigeria Nepal OPT Papua New Guinea Philippines Pakistan Rwanda Seychelles Sudan Sierra Leone Senegal Somalia Sao Tome and Principe Swaziland Turkmenistan Chad Togo Thailand Tajikistan Timor-Leste Tanzania United Arab Emirates Uganda Uzbekistan Vietnam Western Sahara Yemen South Africa Zambia Zimbabwe | GLOBAL: Investment key to disaster preparedness | Economy Environment Natural Disasters | News Item: "Philippines senator Loren Legarda noted that China managed to save US$12 billion in rehabilitation costs thanks to its $3 billion investment in flood control. 'We need to look at disaster risk reduction as an investment rather than a cost,' says Legarda. 'In the long term it will be much more effective.'"

Tennant Warns Against Charity Fraud - WVNS-TV - WVNSTV.com

Tennant Warns Against Charity Fraud - WVNS-TV - WVNSTV.com: "Secretary of State Natalie E. Tennant is urging people who want to donate supplies to flood victims in southern West Virginia to check on the charity before donating.

CHARLESTON -- A complete database of charities licensed to solicit contributions can be found by visiting www.wvsos.com and clicking on the “Charities Section” icon."

In Asia » Blog Archive » A Silver Lining in Post-Earthquake China

In Asia » Blog Archive » A Silver Lining in Post-Earthquake China: "A year has passed since the Sichuan Earthquake and, while much has been accomplished, there is still so much more to be done. Last month I again had the opportunity to visit the earthquake affected area along with several Give2Asia colleagues and donors. As I have been from the start, I was impressed by the resilience and optimism of the people we met. Despite the loss of their homes, jobs and, in some cases, loved ones, they are moving forward and working hard to rebuild their lives."

Tsunami victims still homeless | The Jakarta Post

Tsunami victims still homeless | The Jakarta Post: "More than 5,000 homeless tsunami victims, who have lived in barracks since the 2004 disaster, have threatened to boycott the upcoming presidential election."

Record number of devastating disasters in 2008: Worldwatch

Record number of devastating disasters in 2008: Worldwatch: "A new snapshot of natural disasters trends based on data from 1974 to the present reveals that in 2008, some 750 natural disasters occurred worldwide, a 22 percent decline from the record 960 that occurred in 2007. While the number of smaller catastrophes (Categories 1 and 2) fell in 2008, major catastrophes continued an upward trend."

ASEAN-led humanitarian aid effort needed in Burma

ASEAN-led humanitarian aid effort needed in Burma: "Bangkok (Mizzima) - Many international and regional aid officials are now suggesting using an ASEAN-led model for all future humanitarian assistance to Burma."

Warner warns of business failures on Cedar Rapids flood video | GazetteOnline.com - Cedar Rapids, Iowa City

Warner warns of business failures on Cedar Rapids flood video | GazetteOnline.com - Cedar Rapids, Iowa City: "It’s not your average fundraising video. Cedar Rapids Small Business Recovery created the video to spread the word that many of the reopened businesses among the 650-plus that flooded in June 2008 are in danager of failing without more help."

Reuters AlertNet - A bicycle and a megaphone: saving lives in cyclone-prone Bangladesh

Reuters AlertNet - A bicycle and a megaphone: saving lives in cyclone-prone Bangladesh: "Warnings to evacuate blasted from loudspeakers strung to palm trees and mosques as thousands of volunteers armed with megaphones, whistles and bicycles delivered coastal communities in Bangladesh the bad news - a cyclone was on its way."

Disaster Relief Group Braces for Start of Hurricane Season

Disaster Relief Group Braces for Start of Hurricane Season: "June 1st marks the start of hurricane season for the United States, the Caribbean and Latin America. Experts predict as many as 14 serious storms this year. In preparation for these storms and the damage they can do, AmeriCares has stocked disaster aid in key areas prone to hurricanes."

PRI.ORG | Philanthropy in China a year after the Sichuan earthquake

PRI.ORG | Philanthropy in China a year after the Sichuan earthquake: "Last year's Sichuan earthquake prompted an unprecedented outpouring of donations and volunteers from throughout China, but has it sustained?"

ReliefWeb » Document » Sri Lanka: "Binning" farewell to disaster

ReliefWeb » Document » Sri Lanka: "Binning" farewell to disaster: "In the village of Egoda Uyana North, in southwest Sri Lanka, Sarath Fernando is using compost bins to reduce the impacts of disasters. The village has a long history of epidemics, urban flooding and other environmental issues and was particularly affected by the December 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, which destroyed apart of the community."

Charleston Daily Mail - West Virginia News and Sports - AP Featured News - Disaster aid available for some WVa nonprofits

Charleston Daily Mail - West Virginia News and Sports - AP Featured News - Disaster aid available for some WVa nonprofits : "CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - Federal disaster loans are available for homeless shelters, libraries and other private nonprofit organizations in Mingo and Wyoming counties affected by recent storms, flooding and landslides."

Reuters AlertNet - Donors or survivors: who are aid groups more accountable to?

Reuters AlertNet - Donors or survivors: who are aid groups more accountable to?: "In the latest poll by the Humanitarian Accountability Partnership (HAP), which runs a global quality assurance scheme for humanitarian agencies, just a quarter of respondents rated relief groups as being highly accountable to intended beneficiaries, compared with 74 percent when it came to official donors."

Asian American Giving: Saving the Qiang children

Asian American Giving: Saving the Qiang children: "Saving the Qiang children

Last year, we were faced with two disasters in Asia. Many individuals, families, foundations and corporations in the U.S. stepped up and generously supported the disaster relief and recovery of Cyclone Nargis in Burma and the Sichuan Earthquake in China. I had invited several authors to pick a topic that was not in the mainstream news but related to the disasters. For the next several posts, we hope our readers will enjoy these stories."

Jakarta Globe

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Jakarta Globe: "International Agencies Pledge Disaster Help for Asean Nations

Denpasar. The United Nations and the World Bank pledged on Monday to work more closely with Southeast Asia in tackling the rising threat of natural disasters in the heavily-populated region.

Meeting in Bali, representatives of the World Bank and the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction signed an agreement for technical assistance to help the Association of Southeast Asian Nations implement a strategy to cope with disasters and the effects of climate change."

Tax Relief in Disaster Situations

Tax Relief in Disaster Situations: "Tax Relief in Disaster Situations

Recent Tax Relief

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Relief for Victims of Storms and Tornadoes in Alabama, see News Release
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Relief for Victims of Storms and Floods in Florida, see News Release
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Relief for Victims of Storms and Floods in Arkansas, see News Release
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Relief for Vicitms of Storms and Floods in Indiana, see News Release
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Relief for Victims of Storms and Floods in Georgia, see News Release
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Relief for Victims of Storms and Floods in North Dakota, see News Release
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Relief for Victims of Storms and Floods in Minnesota, see News Release
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IRS Grants Minnesota, North Dakota Flood Victims until May 15 to File Tax Returns, Make Payments, see News Release
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Relief for Victims of Storms and Tornadoes in Oklahoma, see News Release"

American Red Cross Calls on Facebook Friends for Votes

American Red Cross Calls on Facebook Friends for Votes: "The American Red Cross today announces its participation in Bullseye Gives, the first-ever Target Facebook giving campaign. From May 10 through May 25, American Red Cross’s Facebook fans, constituents, donors and supporters can vote for the organization to win a portion of a $3 million charitable donation. The more votes, the larger the donation."

globeandmail.com: Canada, Japan to strike deal aiding relief flights

globeandmail.com: Canada, Japan to strike deal aiding relief flights: "OTTAWA — Japan and Canada will clear away a diplomatic hurdle that has in the past tangled efforts to deliver aid to Asia when Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon visits Tokyo today.

Defence officials found themselves scrambling for a pit stop when a Canadian Forces C-17 loaded with aid for victims of Myanmar's cyclone Nargis tried to deliver the goods last May, because they couldn't get a quick approval from friendly Japan to touch down at one of their airports."

Non-profits must adapt, collaborate | corridor commentator

Non-profits must adapt, collaborate | corridor commentator: "Gazette Editorial

The June flood damaged the homes of 55 non-profit organizations in Cedar Rapids, making their efforts to assist flood victims even more challenging.
The record floodwaters forced many non-profits to curtail or revise operations. But the disaster also pushed to the surface an idea discussed for years: Create a human services campus where non-profit agencies, including those displaced by the flood, could share space and costs. Convenience for patrons and lower operating expenses would be goals."