FEMA suggests ways to help Harvey victims

When disaster strikes, Americans want to help.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency issued an advisory Tuesday acknowledging the compassion and generosity of U.S. citizens while offering advice for those looking for ways to lend a hand to the survivors of Tropical Storm Harvey.

“It is individuals, nonprofits, faith- and community-based organizations, private sector partners, and governmental agencies working together that will most effectively and efficiently help survivors cope …,” the agency said.

FEMA encourages people to donate money and time to reputable organizations rather than sending unsolicited items like clothing, household goods, medicine or food.

Cash donations allow organizations that are already on the ground and providing assistance to use the funds to meet the most critical developing needs. Monetary donations also allow agencies to buy supplies near, or in, the disaster area which helps businesses recover more quickly and infuses money into the local economy.

“I have seen so many piles of well-meant junk,” said Mike Bullard, a retired Presbyterian pastor in Coeur d’Alene.

Bullard and his wife, Betsy, are both on the national response team for Presbyterian Disaster Assistance.

While helping in Oklahoma City following a tornado that left nothing standing, Bullard recalls seeing a pile of baby diapers the size of a house, with no babies around who needed them.

“People send old clothes, furniture … There will be a time when people will be happy for those things, but wait until they’re asked for,” Bullard said.

In Newtown, Conn., following the 2012 school shooting that killed 20, people sent 100,000 Teddy bears, he said. The organizations on the ground had to find a warehouse and a trucking company to handle all the stuffed animals.

“That gets in the way of other things that need to be done,” Bullard said.

FEMA encourages donors to seek trusted organizations to support, and suggests those seeking more information about how to help to visit the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster website: nvoad.org.

VOAD is an association of organizations that offer disaster assistance.

Bullard, who is chair of the Inland Northwest VOAD, said he has witnessed “radical cooperation” among different faith-based organizations responding to catastrophic events.

That type of seamless effort during a crisis comes through planning ahead for the worst, he said, and the VOAD agencies have developed areas of expertise.

“If people will use those set-up channels, they’ll be so much more effective,” Bullard said.

Planning is also critical for anyone who wants to travel to a disaster area to volunteer their time.

“The state of Texas is asking volunteers to not self-deploy, as unexpectedly showing up to any of the communities that have been impacted by Hurricane Harvey will create an additional burden for first responders,” said the FEMA advisory.

Part of that burden, Bullard said, is associated with another sad reality of dealing with a disaster.

“There are scammers that run in immediately,” Bullard said.

Some pose as victims seeking assistance. Others find other ways to swindle an already vulnerable population.

“The police and the fire department don’t have time to check your credentials,” Bullard said.

His wife, Betsy, is waiting to find out if she’ll be going to Houston to help at a shelter, he said. She spent several years getting the training and credentials to be able to offer that service.

“If people care, they need to care before the disaster,” Bullard said. “There is no time to check those things out when one hits.”

Bullard said he will likely go to the Houston area later to assist with the long-term recovery efforts.

For more advice about how to help during a disaster, Bullard can be contacted by email at [email protected].