Disaster Relief
Do You Give to Disaster Relief?
When to Give: The Four Phases of Disaster Relief
Cynthia Strauss
Important Considerations When Giving to Disaster Relief Efforts
Internal Revenue Service: Disaster Relief — Providing assistance through charitable organizationsDisaster Relief
Fidelity Charitable Donors have a record of giving for disaster relief and ask us for guidance to enhance their impact.
The resources in this section may help you make disaster relief part of your giving plan.
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Advocacy: Ensure communities collaborate to prepare in advance of disaster and minority and vulnerable populations including the elderly, children and disabled are included in disaster planning and post-disaster response.
Medical: Emergency medical support and supplies as well as reestablishment of community medical system.
Animal Welfare: Animal rescue, care, and shelter immediately after a disaster.
Mental Health: Assessments, large group and individual counseling, stress and anger management and re-establishment disrupted services.
Child Welfare: Establish safe areas for children, psycho-social recovery programs, reunify families.
Relief Supplies: Gather and distribute supplies such as water, clothing, hygiene kits, and household items.
Communication: Provide critical communication and coordination in the immediate aftermath of a disaster when traditional communication lines are down.
Shelter: Build and maintain temporary shelter, reconstruct houses and community.
Disaster Education: Provide educational materials and teaching to public and private arms of the community to prepare for and mitigate disaster impact as well as foster collaboration.
Transportation: Provide the transportation of critical relief supplies and staff to disaster affected areas.
Disaster Preparedness Training: Training focused on medical triage, shelter management, evacuation guidance, general victim assistance, business continuity, and the establishment of partnerships and collaborative agreements in advance.
Volunteer Deployment: Organizing work and supporting volunteers who provide assistance to survivors of disasters.
Financial & Legal Services: Assistance communicating with creditors, referrals to government and private agencies, insurance claims assistance, legal assistance, preparedness through presentations and literature on personal disaster preparedness.
Weather & Seismic Research: Research targeted at understanding natural disasters in order to predict events or give advanced warning to citizens of impending disaster.
Food: Gather, distribute, and replenish food immediately after a disaster and ongoing as the community reestablishes itself.
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Charities in the affected areas may take on a disaster relief role to serve the affected population. Look for program expertise as well as disaster expertise.
Charities with expertise in disaster management within the country in which the disaster has occurred. Look for a track record of collaboration with nonprofit organizations and the government.
Charities with worldwide expertise in international disaster management and preparedness that can have teams ready to quickly deploy. Look for charities with country or local expertise and relationships, including a track record of collaboration.
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