Information from FEMA on Donations for Joplin, MO

Good afternoon everyone!

I'm currently working in FEMA's National Response Coordination Center in support of the disaster operation in Joplin MO. As a member of the donations management community, your help is requested in getting a strong donations message out to Facebook and Twitter networks, your friends, family and colleagues, and partner organizations that unsolicited donations of "stuff" (e.g. used clothing, miscellaneous food items, household goods) are NOT needed. The community is now facing a situation where the management of these donations is taking attention, focus, and energy away from relief activities.

The message that FEMA and the state of Missouri wish to have distributed is:

• Cash is best. It doesn't need to be sorted, stored or distributed, and cash allows the receiving voluntary agency to direct the donation to the needs that most urgently need addressing. Go to www.aidmatrix.org/fema and click on "Missouri" for links to voluntary agencies helping on the ground.
• For information on other ways to help go to: www.fema.gov/rebuild/recover/howtohelp.shtm.

Thanks for your help!

Susan Jensen

Shelter and Collection Points in Aumsville

We have received three locations for the efforts in Aumsville.

A. Volunteer and Media Collection Point has been established at the Bethel Baptist Church at 645 Cleveland Street.

B. Human Shelter by the Red Cross has been setup at the Mt View Wesleyan Church at 111 Main Street.

C. Donation Collection Point has been established at the Allied Waste Site at 9613 Mill Creek Road.

Celebrate Red Cross Month in March

Governor Ted Kulongoski has proclaimed March as Red Cross Month in Oregon, joining President Barack Obama in a tradition upheld by every U.S. President dating back to Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1943. See Oregon's 2010 Red Cross Month proclamation at www.oregonredcross.org/proclamation.

"The American Red Cross is there when people need us most. During March, we thank those whose support enables us to continue our work," said Maree Wacker, Regional Executive for the American Red Cross in Oregon. "Their generosity helps us continue to serve those who need us every day – whether they are down the street, across the country or around the world."

The American Red Cross is part of the world's largest humanitarian network – 97 million volunteers helping in 186 countries. In this country, the Red Cross helps change lives seven days a week, 24 hours a day.

Last year in Oregon:

* 600 families relied on the Oregon Red Cross for immediate help after a disaster.
* 2,200 military families received assistance with emergency communications from the Oregon Red Cross.
* 6,500 Oregonians give their time to make their communities safer by volunteering for the American Red Cross.
* 74,000 Oregonians gave life-saving blood through the American Red Cross.
* 122,000 Oregonians learned life-saving skills through the American Red Cross.

The help of the American Red Cross extends around the world to those in need. In just a little over a month since the earthquake devastated Haiti, the Red Cross has helped more than one million people in the region. Relief efforts include providing clean water and sanitation, food and relief supplies, and health care. It will take many years for the people of Haiti to recover and the American Red Cross will work in close coordination with other organizations to support longer-term assistance projects.

March is a great time for people to get involved with the American Red Cross – to give blood, take training in CPR and first aid, volunteer or give a financial gift to help when the next disaster strikes. Contact the Oregon Trail Chapter at 503-284-1234 or visit http://www.oregonredcross.org/ to find out how you can get involved.

A Message from DHS:

The images from Haiti continue to illustrate the devastating impact of natural disasters. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is working hard to support the international response effort to help our neighbors recover from this tragedy.

Emergency preparation may not be possible for every individual, or for every type of emergency, but we cannot overstate the importance of preparedness planning. The U.S. federal government, along with many of our partners in the private sector, provides abundant resources for preparing your family for disasters.

We encourage you to utilize these resources and prepare your family to the fullest extent you can. If you live in a region prone to earthquakes, you are probably aware of the risks they pose. Knowing the risks within your community is the first step in evaluating the preparedness level of your family. DHS encourages you to research the potential risks in your area, evaluate how you should best respond, and prepare your family accordingly. Forethought and planning will help you make sound decisions during a crisis and keep your family safe.

Consider the following tips for preparing your family for emergencies: Visit the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) website and click any state to see the common local risks and how to best respond. Find out what your community is doing to prepare for emergencies and volunteer. Visit the websites of organizations and government programs like Ready.gov, Citizen Corps, and the National Safety Council and utilize the resources they provide. Subscribe to the free Citizen Corps news email service for community preparedness news and updates. Visit the website of the Home Safety Council to learn how you can make your home safer for you and your family.

Take classes in lifesaving skills, such as CPR/AED and first aid, or in emergency response, such as CERT. Work with parent-teacher organizations to discuss how you can support their emergency plans and drills. The Office of Safe and Drug Free Schools and Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools will have information on school emergency preparedness and response. Help children prepare for emergencies at their own pace and maturity level. Monetary contributions remain the best way to support the relief efforts in Haiti.

International Response Fund

You can help the victims of countless crises, like the recent earthquake in Haiti, around the world each year by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross International Response Fund, which will provide immediate relief and long-term support through supplies, technical assistance and other support to help those in need. The American Red Cross honors donor intent. If you wish to designate your donation to a specific disaster, please do so at the time of your donation by mailing your donation with the designation to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, D.C. 20013 or to your local American Red Cross chapter. Donations to the International Response Fund can be made by phone at 1-800-REDCROSS or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish) or online at www.redcross.org.