Groups offer tips on disaster relief response

There are better ways to respond to help the victims of natural disasters than just showing up to help or immediately sending loads of supplies, according to officials who study and deal with victim response.

A massive tornado that hit Moore, Okla., and other communities in the suburb of Oklahoma City, killed at least 24 and injured more than 230. There were also hundreds of homes destroyed or damaged.

Larger companies are often able to help in ways that provide immediate relief and are connected to response agencies in the affected area.

CORPORATE SUPPORT
Bentonville-based Wal-Mart and its supplier community have done just that by providing help to not only their employees and facilities in the area, but in providing supplies for response agencies. Wal-Mart has committed at least $1 million in cash and in-kind donations.

Fort Smith-based OK Foods sent a relief team to the Moore area Wednesday morning with cooking equipment and more than 30,000 pounds of chicken and other food supplies.

“OK has many ties to the area including employees families that have been touched by this disaster. This is one in a long series of relief efforts that OK has sponsored,” noted a statement from OK Foods.

Springdale-based Tyson Foods has sent its “Meals That Matter” truck to the Moore area to provide hot meals.

The River Valley Regional Food Bank in Fort Smith sent on Monday truckloads of water and other immediate supply needs, said Ken Kupchick, director of marketing and development for the food bank.

“ABF (Freight) was kind enough to expedite it in a direct way to Oklahoma City. … We had it loaded by noon and the truck was there by 3 (p.m.),” Kupchick explained, adding that Fort Smith-based ABF donated the time and equipment for the water run and future supply runs to central Oklahoma.

DON’T SHOW UP WITH A CHAINSAW
The Center for Community Engagement (CCE) at the University of Arkansas issued a statement Wednesday (May 22) providing tips on how individuals may best help the people of a devastated area.

“When hearts are breaking we are moved to do something. Many decide their response must be to go and help or to pack a few things to send to those who have lost everything,” the center noted in its statement.

But sometimes the least helpful thing is acting on the first instinct.

“First, please don't show up to volunteer: The ‘spontaneous’ volunteer is the person who shows up with a good heart, a chain saw and they are prepared to get busy. The problem is that the community and response teams are not prepared to manage the good hearted spontaneous volunteer,” explained the CCE release.

The CCE recommended working through disaster relief programs sponsored by the Red Cross or “faith-based” groups. Those groups typically have a process by which volunteers may be best assigned to help.

“Second, please do not send ‘stuff’: People often see families who've lost everything and naturally want to fill trailers with supplies – clothes, dishes, furniture. The affected communities do not have the infrastructure to manage massive donations; they need to focus their volunteer efforts on finding victims,” according to the CCE.

SUPPORT NEEDS CONTINUE
A call for donations will typically include a specified list of community needs, and those are often for toiletries, diapers and cash.

“Third, the very best ways to respond immediately: Give blood and give cash donations to reputable organizations.”

The fourth way to help, according to the CCE, is to volunteer long after the media has moved on to cover the next disaster.

“Please remember the recovery is a long-term process; the people of Joplin are still rebuilding. If you would like to do something today in honor of our friends in Oklahoma, volunteer to help Rebuild Joplin,” the CCE encouraged. “The communities of Shawnee, Moore and Oklahoma City will need volunteers for the coming months and years; consider spending your summer, fall or holiday breaks in Oklahoma cleaning up and rebuilding.”

The CCE website provides info on volunteer opportunities.

“Know that we appreciate your good hearts and desire to help. Let's make sure our desire to help doesn't become a burden on those who are already dealing with so much loss,” the CCE statement concluded.

LONG-TERM FOOD SUPPORT
Kupchick said one of the best ways to help provide food is to send financial support to the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma. The food bank can accept $10 donations by texting FOOD to 32333. Donations may also be made on the organization’s website.
regionalfoodbank.org/

“For us, what we do is break these events down into two pieces: rescue and recovery. During rescue, we’re just trying to get food to first responders and rescue workers and families. … What we need to do is give them (food bank and other local agencies) the resources to help them do what they are already set up to do,” Kupchick explained.

He also recommended giving to local agencies like the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma rather than the larger national organizations who may not give all the money to Oklahoma City area. The River Valley food bank is sponsoring a combination food and blood drive between 8:30 a.m. and Noon, on May 30, at the Atwoods store on Zero Street in Fort Smith.

And as the CCE noted, the relief efforts don’t end in just a few weeks when the media attention is diverted elsewhere.

“We come in after FEMA and the Red Cross leave. We come in later with the hunger relief efforts. … Let’s face it, businesses were destroyed in this, so people lost their jobs … and that job may or may not come back. So if you’re really serious about helping these people, put $10 on your credit card for a year” to one of the local agencies, Kupchick said.