After the storm - Hurricane Sandy

After the disaster, what can you do to help? The three top organizations out there to help with Hurricane Sandy are The Red Cross, The Salvation Army and FEMA. The Red Cross by far has the easiest website to navigate for assistance. Here is the site: FIND HELP - RED CROSS  The Red Cross also has excellent information listed on their twitter feed and on their Facebook page.  Red Cross Facebook Page

The other two organizations also have easy to follow directions to find help. For the Salvation Army, select a state and then follow the directions for shelters or emergency assistance. I found the best up to date information was their twitter feed as well as their Facebook page. Both provided excellent information that was posted at least every 12 hours. Salvation Army Facebook Page 

Information listed on FEMA’s page has great resources for shelter services: To find a shelter, individuals can download the Red Cross Hurricane app, visit the Red Cross web site, or call 1-800- RED CROSS (1-800-733-3767) or check our local media outlets. Other things you can do is to register on the Red Cross Safe and Well website, a secure and easy-to-use online tool that helps families connect during emergencies. To register, visit www.redcross.org or call 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

FEMA’s distribution centers have an overall inventory of more than 5 million liters of water, 3 million meals, 900,000 blankets and 100,000 cots. FEMA and the Department of Defense have established Incident Support Bases in Westover, Mass. And Lakehurst, New Jersey to pre-position supplies including water, meals, blankets and other resources closer to potentially impacted areas.

Other great information is found here: www.ready.gov and www.listo.gov The FEMA mobile site (http://m.fema.gov) , smartphone app (www.fema.gov/smartphone-app), and text messages (www.fema.gov/text-messages) also provide regular updates. Sharing information using social media tools is also a good way for residents to stay informed. Follow FEMA online at www.fema.gov/blog , www.twitter.com/fema, and www.facebook/fema and www.youtube.com/fema

I hope I have given out information that can be helpful if you are in need, but if you would like to help with establishing shelters, giving food, or emergency medical assistance here are your resources. Interestingly on FEMA’s website, the easiest way to volunteer and help is to provide a financial contribution to a recognized disaster relief organization. As you can imagine, this allows the organization to fund response and recovery efforts, obtain goods and services locally, and provide direct financial assistance to disaster survivors to meet their own needs. If you need help with deciding which organization to give to, a National Voluntary Organization Active in Disaster website has a list of major non-profits that are active in disaster work. 

If you are interested in giving a hand- here is your best bet: Volunteer with a local organization to help with the disaster victims. Ideally if you volunteer, register and are trained in disaster relief you are able to provide it when the next big event occurs. Many organizations and faith-based groups in your community have active disaster response programs that are always looking for volunteers.

The following groups are a list of suggestions for disaster volunteerism:

www.nvoad.org

www.serve.gov

www.citizencorps.gov

www.helpindisaster.org

www.networkforgood.org

Lastly, if you are unable to physically help, or financially help, organizations will always take in donated goods such as clothing, miscellaneous household items, and mixed or perishable food.

We are praying for those affected by the hurricane and pray that aid and help comes quickly to those in needs. Please keep them close in your heart and prayers.

          - ONAAT

***If you are any of these organizations we are always looking to provide information to nurses about immediate needs or urgent needs, so if you have one, please contact us at onenurseatatime@gmail.com

Tropical Storm Isaac

As Tropical Storm Isaac picks up and leaves in its path destruction and devastation, several organizations are gearing up to start assisting with repairs, and medical help.

Two teams are already packing up and sending crews from San Diego. American Red Cross has sent five disaster workers to the Gulf Coast, while San Diego’s International Relief Teams are working in San Diego preparing to be shipped out in case more hands are needed.

During disaster times such as these, at times I have found it oddly difficult to find ways (other than money) to support organizations providing disaster relief. Sometimes, it takes a lot of digging on the Internet to find little bits and pieces of needs – such as blankets, batteries, canned food or medical supplies – and where to send them.

One of the things that I would love to see on our organization’s website is the ability to post simple ways for people to help – and not always money – during times of disasters. (If you are reading this and know of a way for us to post immediate information during times of disasters- please contact us and we will be happy to post it. Email us at onenurseatatime@gmail.com )

Since Tropical Storm Isaac is our current national disaster that is catching the headlines, the easiest organization I could think of to look at was The American Red Cross. So with this in mind, I thought I would walk you through getting set up to volunteer in the American Red Cross. The first step is easy, search our website! www.onenurseatatime.org I searched our website in the Alphabetical Listing tab. I clicked on American Red Cross (General Nursing). You are directed to our page which gives general details about the organization. From here you can click on the link provided. The first page of the ARC displayed a simple way for me to help by donating. But I was interested in ways I could help physically as a nurse, so I kept looking. 

After spending 5 minutes searching on the website, I finally realized that I needed to look at my state chapter and then my county or local  chapter for detailed information. Here is the page to find your local chapter: http://www.redcross.org//find-your-local-chapter  

Reading the Volunteer tab on my local chapter’s website, I recognized that there is a process which must take place first before I just fling myself into the arms of Tropical Storm Isaac.  It appears time consuming, but I believe if you take the steps now, you can help out easily and quickly, now and in the future.

After completing an informational session, fill out an application, and do an interview, you will be contacted by the specific volunteer department – that fits your skill set – and they will help complete the training needed to be an American Red Cross Volunteer.  

Sounds like a lot of steps and hoops to jump through…but I think that if I just check one off at a time I can get it done.  So maybe for Tropical Storm Isaac I will donate money, but for the next emergent need, I can think about being deployed. J

-JUST IN CASE YOU HAVEN’T DONE IT YET-  

Here is a great emergency preparedness list of supplies that everyone should have in case of an emergency!

·         Water—one gallon per person, per day (3-day supply for evacuation, 2-week supply for home)

·         Food—non-perishable, easy-to-prepare items (3-day supply for evacuation, 2-week supply for home)

·         Flashlight

·         Battery-powered or hand-crank radio (NOAA Weather Radio, if possible)

·         Extra batteries

·         First aid kit – Anatomy of a First Aid Kit

·         Medications (7-day supply) and medical items

·         Multi-purpose tool

·         Sanitation and personal hygiene items

·         Copies of personal documents (medication list and pertinent medical information, proof of address, deed/lease to home, passports, birth certificates, insurance policies)

·         Cell phone with chargers

·         Family and emergency contact information

·         Extra cash

·         Emergency blanket

·         Map(s) of the area

Doctors Without Borders- Info Session Seattle

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PUT YOUR IDEALS INTO PRACTICE: 
DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS RECRUITMENT INFORMATION SESSION - SEATTLE

Every day, Doctors Without Borders aid workers from around the world provide assistance to people whose survival is threatened by violence, neglect, or catastrophe – treating those most in need regardless of political, religious, or economic interest. Whether an emergency involves armed conflicts or epidemics, malnutrition or natural disasters, Doctors Without Borders is committed to bringing quality medical care to people caught in crisis.

On September 18 in Seattle, medical and non-medical professionals are invited to join us for a presentation to learn more about how you can join Doctors Without Borders' pool of dedicated aid workers.

You'll meet experienced Doctors Without Borders aid workers from the Seattle area and hear firsthand stories of "life in the field." Aid worker and recruiter Melissa Bieri will discuss requirements and the application process.

September 18, 2012 - 7:00PM

REI Seattle

 222 Yale Avenue N

Seattle, WA 98109

For more information and to register please visit: http://msfseattleinfosession091812.eventbrite.com/

Local Opportunities to Help Midwest Tornado Victims

If you're wanting to help the tornado victims from the latest devastating twisters to rip through the midwest this past Friday, check with your local Medical Reserve Corp Chapter or American Red Cross Chapter.  Both organizations need and use nurses with all different skills sets.  Find your local chapter in our directory of organizations under "disaster" at:  http://onenurseatatime.org/volunteer/directory/