Remember what happened to Louisiana when Hurricane Katrina hit several years ago? The hurricane dumped more than an inch of rainfall for three hours, and then it dumped 0.5 inches of rain for the next 5 hours or so. We all know what happened.

Now think of a tropical storm dumping an average of 2.24 inches of rain per hour for six hours straight. Think of a metropolis crammed with millions and millions of people – many of them living near swollen rivers in makeshift shanties. You can just imagine the disaster!

This is exactly what happened to Metro Manila and outlying areas on Saturday, September 26. The center of the nation was left helpless under the wrath of nature. Even the business district was flooded, with cars being swept away by the flood waters.

Ordinary people were left stranded in the middle of the highways. Others were stuck on the roofs of their houses. The less fortunate ones were carried away by the raging waters.

One thing is clear: these people need help.

You will be amazed at how quickly the Filipino people are banding together to offer their help. Numerous institutions have opened their arms as hosts to those who have been displaced. Churches, schools, and community centers have risen to the occasion. Others have volunteered to pack relief goods. People have also been using technology non-stop to do their part – spreading information, asking for rescue, even sending donations to the Philippine Red Cross through their mobile phones. Nothing is too small, and nothing too big – the Filipino nation is showing their “bayanihan” spirit and is proud of it.

For those who want to donate or help in whatever way you can, here’s the relevant information.

• Red Cross donation via SMS: text REDAMOUNT to 2899 (Globe) or 4483 (Smart)
• Relief goods can be sent to Caritas Manila Office at Jesus St., Pandaca Manila near Nagtahan Bridge (tel.no. 5639298/5639308). Relief goods can also be brought Radio Veritas at Veritas Tower West Ave. Corner EDSA (tel no. 9257931-40).
• TeamManila stores in Trinoma, Mall of Asia, Jupiter Bel-Air and Rockwell shall be accepting relief goods (Canned Goods, Ready-to-drink Milk, Bottled Water and Clothes) for distribution by Veritas to displaced countrymen due to Typhoon Ondoy.
• Generous souls in the US who wish to help in the rescue and relief operations, you may donate through the American Red Cross. Call 1-800-435-7669.

Categories: Campaigns, Charities, Disaster Relief, News | Tags: donations, natural-disasters, philippines, red-cross, relief good, rescue operations, tropical storm, typhoon, typhoon ondoy

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No thanks to the series of hurricanes that have been hitting the various parts of the world, the Red Cross is seeking donations from anyone at the moment since helping most, if not all, of these areas in need may soon become a growing concern.

We have seen various hurricanes and typhoons like Hurricane Gustav and Hurricane Ike and mind you, the aftermath of their visits leaves a lot for consideration. The Red Cross will be there but as far as providing aids towards these people who have become victims of such, a lot of problems as far as serving and making sure that they are able to extend that needed help may soon become a wish rather than a reality.

True enough, the Red Cross can only do so much. With the growing number of casualties brought about by these storms and floods, one has to wonder on the maximum capacity that this organization can provide as far as help is concerned.

For the people who have been spared from such wraths, perhaps adding a little something in the form of cash or in kind items can go a long way. The Red Cross is the last group you would think who would ask for help and once that happens, you know that they really need help in assisting our brothers and sisters who have become unfortunate victims of these unruly freaks of nature.

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Categories: Charities, Disaster Relief, News, Organizations | Tags: Charities, donations, gustav, ike, red-cross

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Charities are pegged to be having difficulties these days and if you think of it, you have to wonder what the real reason is behind these hard times? Is it because of successive natural climate disasters or because of the economic downturn which has made most people become more conservative as far as executing charitable acts for the needy?

Indeed, hard times means two different ways. We have seen the hurricanes and storms plaguing each country through the past months and if you had a choice, you would be wondering how organizations such as the Red Cross is able to sustain their funds in aiding the displaced people in the world today.

Actually, the Red Cross has already asked for help. At the rate that natural disasters are hitting, it is only a matter of time before they can admit that they cannot assist all. Add to the fact that the credit crunch has made people shy away from donating large sums of money, you have to wonder where the help will come from.

With that, it would be wise to note that we all have to help out. It is not restricted to the big companies. One small token of help can really go a long way.

In a new report, the Government Accountability Office looked at the capabilities of the Red Cross, the Salvation Army, the Southern Baptist Convention and other charities and concluded ” A worst-case large-scale disaster would overwhelm voluntary organizations current sheltering and feeding capabilities.”

Cindy Fagnon of the GAO says, “For a really catastrophic kind of indicent no one entity alone could handle this and that reinforces the need to have really good collaboration across all sectors… public, private government.”

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Categories: Charities, Disaster Relief, Fundraising | Tags: Charities, hurricanes, ike, red-cross

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This year has seen a lot of storms and hurricanes and the aftermath of them all is what we must all brace for. If you are among the people hit by them, then accept our sympathy. For the others spared by them, perhaps it would not be too much to ask to extend a helping hand to our brothers and sisters who have unfortunately been hit by these freaks of nature.

Surely, expect the Red Cross to lead the way as they have done so in preparing for the apparent coming of a new hurricane names Gustav. Based on previous hurricanes such as Katrina, advanced measures to help avoid worsening disasters would be the foremost importance and hence to make sure that help is at hand, advanced appointments on where Red Cross personnel should be stationed has already been made.

Food and aid are among the foremost necessities needed in times like these and each helping hand would count. With the past storms as basis for what hurricanes have brought to various parts of the world, hopefully the Red Cross as well as the volunteers are ready and prepared for whatever lies in between and after the aftermath of Tropical Storm Gustav

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Categories: Disaster Relief, Environmental, Jobs, News, Volunteering | Tags: disaster, gustav, hurricane, red-cross, storms, tragedy

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Unbeknownst to all, the International Committee of the Red Cross has been in existence as early as the laying down of the foundations of Humanitarian Law well before the First World War. From then till now, the organization has provided millions upon millions of people, assistance in terms of food, medical supplies and services from its current base in Geneva (where the convention of Humanitarian law was drafted and signed by most nations).

Anywhere there is conflict such as the current Darfur Humanitarian crisis, the Iraqi refugee crisis that has resulted from the American Invasion of the said country and many more similar incidents, the Red Cross is in the forefront for all these relief efforts. With local offices in its many member nations and along with its several arms such as the Red Crescent which handles crisis management in Muslim countries (which is necessary due to the many cultural differences in these nations) they have always provided the swiftest if not some of the first relief resources in cases of natural disasters. They conduct training of their personnel and country representatives through experts from Switzerland making them some of the most reliable and skilled response teams capable of responding to most disasters and crisis. Funds come from private and public sources mainly through contributions which can be aimed for specific crisis relief or the Red Cross organization as a whole. Switzerland has always been a neutral country ever since the First World War so it is the ideal place to have the headquarters for one of the world’s largest charitable organization.

Categories: Disaster Relief, Organizations | Tags: Disaster Relief, disaster-relief-efforts, Helping-the-needy, ICRC, International-Red-Cross, Red-Crescent, red-cross

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