Agencies | Disaster Rally

10 Disaster Relief Charities: Where to Go for Help After a Disaster

When disaster strikes you or your family, it’s normal to feel helpless. It is natural to be frightened and to wonder where to turn to find the aid you’ll need to get through to the next day. But there are many places to go for help. Disaster relief charities exist and will reach out to any community in need. Whether it’s medical care, food, and water, shelter, hygiene products, spiritual guidance, or even cold hard cash, you can find what you need to get you by after a disaster. Even once the initial shock and the need for immediate relief subsides, many organizations will help with repairs.

Disaster Relief Charities

These groups are dedicated to helping those who have been affected by disasters. It is literally what they are there for. So, take advantage of their services in any way you can. The best plan is to know which organizations are available locally before disaster strikes. Therefore, make it part of your disaster preparedness plan. Find out which humanitarian groups are available in your area. Consider whether or not you have a strong preference for taking aid from a secular organization versus a religious one. Then, ask for help when you need it.

American Red Cross

disaster relief charities — Image CC0, by ErikLyngsoe, via Pixabay

The American Red Cross is a secular, volunteer-led humanitarian organization. This massive organization provides not only disaster relief, but also blood donations, safety training, international relief services, and aid for military families. The American Red Cross’ mission statement declares that the organization “prevents and alleviates human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors.”

The Red Cross offers medical care, financial assistance, and emergency communication at no cost to those in need. It also operates disaster shelters across the country.

Salvation Army

The Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian organization that provides some services to those in crisis. This organization offers disaster relief, financial assistance, homeless shelters, soup kitchens, and aid for veterans and the elderly. The Salvation Army also vows to end human trafficking, domestic violence, gang violence, LGBTQ issues, poverty, and unemployment. The Salvation Army operates thrift stores located across the country as well. While there is no cost to receive assistance from The Salvation Army, you may be expected to spread the organization’s religious agenda.

United Way

The United Way is a secular volunteer organization that specializes in responding to poverty and its effects on health, education, and stability. United Way’s 211 program allows anyone in need of help to dial 211 from any phone. Dialing that number puts the caller in touch with local relief services. This includes disaster relief, emergency alerts, mental health support, shelters, domestic violence assistance, housing and utility assistance, employment services, healthcare information, and aid for veterans.

World Vision

World Vision is a global Christian humanitarian organization. Although the organization identifies itself as religious, it stresses that its services are available to all people of all faiths, as well as those who do not practice religion at all. World Vision’s focus is mostly on connecting children in third world countries with sponsors. The sponsors pay a monthly fee to help provide those children with food, drinking water, and access to education. The organization also provides relief in the event of a disaster.

Learn more about World Vision below:

Samaritan’s Purse

Samaritan’s Purse is another Christian organization dedicated to helping people around the world in the name of Jesus. This organization, devoted to global disaster response, stockpiles supplies in warehouses all over the globe. When disaster strikes, they hand out food, water, cooking utensils, food, blankets, tents, and rain gear. Samaritan’s Purse also supplies hospitals with medical supplies and dispatches medical teams to areas where people have no access to emergency medical care.

Episcopal Relief and Development

Episcopal Relief and Development is the official organization of the Episcopal Church. It focuses on four distinct goals: hunger, healthcare, economic opportunities, and disaster relief. This organization has a well-developed U.S. Disaster Program, which proved key in response to the 2017 hurricane season. Episcopal Relief and Development offers a wealth of disaster preparedness education resources on its website.

Catholic Charities

Catholic Charities serves communities with over 160 agencies across the United States. Each agency offers social services customized for the specific community it serves. Catholic Charities is the official disaster relief agency of the U.S. Catholic Church. The organization provides direct long-term and short-term aid to relief victims. The aid they provide often includes food, water, home repairs, rebuilding, and cash assistance.

United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR)

The United Methodist Committee on Relief is the humanitarian organization of the United Methodist Church. This organization and its donors ship disaster relief kits around the world. Cleaning kits, Hygiene kits, and school kids are designed to help people keep living their daily lives after surviving a disaster. Volunteers can go to the UMC’s website to find instructions for assembling relief kits and to print shipping labels. They can then ship supplies directly to The United Methodist Committee on Relief for distribution.

Operation Blessing

Operation Blessing is a non-denominational Christian organization that vows to ease global human suffering through the “demonstration of God’s love.” This organization aids not only those affected by natural disasters but also refugees fleeing war-torn countries. This includes housing, food, shelter, and medical care. Operation Blessing also runs a program called Extreme Blessing Home Makeover, which rebuilds the home of those affected by disasters at no charge.

National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NVOAD)

National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster is an association of over 50 organizations that provide disaster relief services. These include religious, secular, and government-sponsored disaster relief charities where people affected by disasters can go for help in an emergency. Anyone with the proper experience can become a member of the NVOAD and help to coordinate disaster relief efforts by applying on the official National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster website.

How You Can Help

Every organization on this list relies at least mostly on donations and volunteers to provide disaster relief services for those in need. Donating is easier than ever. Just plug in the website of the disaster relief charities of your choice and donate instantly. But, don’t feel like you can’t help if you’re not able to afford to make a monetary donation. Time or item donations are also essential. Maybe you have a basement full of old camping equipment. This could provide shelter and safety for someone displaced by a hurricane. Or, perhaps you make a mean homemade chicken soup and would enjoy handing out hot meals to those in need of nourishment. Contact one of the disaster relief charities in your community, and find out what they need. Some will even arrange pick-up or transportation if you want to volunteer.

Don’t be afraid or ashamed to ask for help in your time of need. And encourage your friends and family to do the same. There is no need to suffer when is available needlessly. Reach out to disaster relief charities that provide relief if you’ve been affected by a disaster. Then, ask them what they can do to help you survive as comfortably as possible. The number of services available may surprise you. Many even go beyond the primary responsibility of handing out bottled water, food and supplies. Many disaster relief organizations also provide cash assistance, housing, medical care, and even counseling, if you apply for them.

Be Prepared

Preparedness is always the best plan, so choose an organization before you desperately need one. Create a disaster preparedness plan and review it often. Encourage your friends, family, and everyone else in your community to do the same. Consider donating money or volunteering your time. Choose the disaster relief charities you and your family would most likely turn to if you found yourselves in need. Then, you won’t feel like you’re getting something for nothing if you end up needing their services some day. Even if you never do, you’ll feel good. You’ll know that you’ve helped people at what was probably their lowest, most vulnerable moment in life. And you’ll know that there are people out there who will make sure that you are taken care of, should you ever end up on the other side of the disaster equation.

Featured Image CC 0 by paulbr75, via Pixabay

FEMA Disaster Relief Can Help Survivors Get Back on Their Feet

FEMA disaster relief is your biggest ally If you’ve ever lived through a hurricane, a wildfire, an earthquake or a major flood. They are the people who help Americans get on the road to recovery, through financial assistance and infrastructure repair.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) began in 1979 as an effort to coordinate emergency response throughout the nation. In the past, more than 100 state and federal agencies handled disaster response. Jimmy Carter created FEMA through an executive order to consolidate the response.

In 2003, President George W. Bush folded FEMA into the Department of Homeland Security. Today, the agency is under threat. Instead, they believe, most of the responsibilities should be given back to the states and localities.

What is FEMA?

Summer is on its way, and if it’s like most recent summers, the nation is in for its share of natural disasters. That’s when FEMA steps in. While FEMA is best known for stepping in during and after hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, fires, and earthquakes, they also handle human-made disasters, such as hazardous material spills, bombings, and even war. They were among the responders as 9/11.

FEMA isn’t just there to help people after a disaster. They work with people to prevent damage beforehand. Through their Project Impact, they help individuals and communities steady structures for impending disasters. For example, they might help retrofit buildings in earthquake-prone San Francisco, or they might help board up homes in Florida that are in the path of a hurricane. During the Cold War, they even helped prepare buildings for a nuclear attack.

What does FEMA disaster relief entail?

FEMA disaster relief can assist first responders, but FEMA isn’t a first responder organization. Firefighters, police, paramedics, emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and sometimes the National Guard are the first on the scene.

FEMA’s primary job is to get disaster victims back on their feet. They coordinate with the Red Cross and the Salvation Army in setting up care centers and shelters. They provide food, water, and with the help of the Red Cross, medical care. That’s just the beginning, though.

They also provide:

Housing

FEMA offers temporary housing assistance by offering temporary rental grants, or if no rentals are available, they provide government housing
If your insurance won’t pay for all of your repairs, FEMA can pitch in to help with the costs
They provide money for homes that are completely destroyed and uninsured.

Medical

If you need medical assistance, disaster-related or not, FEMA is there to assist
They help cover dental bills
They also help cover funeral expenses related to the disaster

Property

If your home is unlivable because of a disaster, FEMA can help with transportation and storage for your furniture. Sometimes, they help replaced destroyed personal property
FEMA will assist you with moving expenses
They help rebuild and repair damaged infrastructure, which includes bridges, roads, sewer lines and public buildings
FEMA helps remove debris left behind by the disaster

H/T: How Stuff Works

What is the dispatch process for FEMA critical needs assistance?

FEMA can assist first responders, but FEMA isn’t a first responder organization. Firefighters, police, paramedics, emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and sometimes the National Guard are the first on the scene. When FEMA arrives before a disaster, it’s to prepare for the inevitable by setting up aid stations, bringing supplies and helping people prepare homes and small businesses.

In most disasters, the President, usually at the request of the affected state’s governors, declares a national disaster. That allows the federal government to send assistance.

How long does it take for FEMA to arrive?

If there is prior warning, such as with hurricanes, the president appoints, upon FEMA’s recommendation, a Federal Coordinating Officer (FCO). The FCO manages the flow of information to rescue personnel and political leaders. He or she also sets up a field office near the disaster site.

FEMA’s biggest fumble to date was during Hurricane Katrina. Even then, FEMA was on the ground before the storm. Unfortunately, they lacked preparation. Here’s just one instance:

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema) has been accused of being so concerned about the possibility of a terrorist attack that it failed to prepare properly for a much more inevitable natural disaster.

After the authorities in Baton Rouge had prepared a field hospital for victims of the storm, Fema sent its first batch of supplies, all of which were designed for use against chemical attack, including drugs such as Cipro, which is designed for use against anthrax. “We called them up and asked them: ‘Why did you send that, and they said that’s what it says in the book’,” said a Baton Rouge official.
Source: The Guardian

Many also blamed New Orlean’s mayor and the governor of Louisiana. Most agree that many agencies and many people were ultimately to blame.

FEMA after Katrina

After Katrina, Americans lost trust in FEMA. Fortunately, they learned their lesson. During Hurricane Sandy, for example, FEMA received rave reviews for their response. They deployed some personnel three days before the storm hit. President Barack Obama declared the emergency declaration the day before the storm hit. He amended that to a major disaster declaration the day after the storm.

FEMA continues to receive criticism over its response in 2017 to Hurricane Maria, which hit Puerto Rico in September. There were some FEMA personnel on the ground before the storm hit, but far fewer than were needed.

Once the government dispatches FEMA to a disaster area, they can stay for months or even years.

How to Qualify for FEMA Public Assistance

If a natural disaster has affected you, go to DisasterAssistance.gov to see if your area is eligible. Whether you are a renter or a homeowner, if you’ve lost your home to a disaster, FEMA might help with what insurance doesn’t cover.

If you run a small business, FEMA can’t directly help you, but they do partner with the Small Business Administration, which offers low-interest loans to help cover damages.

FEMA also offers burial assistance, assistance with moving, and childcare assistance. They even offer assistance in finding a new vehicle if the disaster destroys yours.

FEMA does not offer assistance for second homes.

To apply, call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). They will ask for your social security number, the address of the damaged home and your current address. They’ll need the name of your insurance company along with the account number. You’ll also be asked your annual income and for a description of the damage. If you’d like direct deposit into your account, they’ll need your bank account number and routing number.

Where to find a FEMA service center

To locate a FEMA disaster relief service center, AKA, a FEMA Disaster Recovery Center, you can go to FEMA’s website and type in your address. You can also download their free app from the Apple App Store or GooglePlay.

If you prefer not to download an app, you can text DRC and your zip code to 43362. They will text you the nearest locations. Standard message data rates apply.

You can also register online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 800-621-3362 or TTY 800-462-7585. If you use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 800-621-3362. Operators are multilingual and calls are answered seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. CDT.

Source: FEMA

How long till I get paid after filling out a FEMA application

Once you are deemed eligible, a process which can vary in length depending on several factors, it only takes about 2-4 days before you see the money. Direct deposit is faster, but they can mail you a check. FEMA will only help with what insurance doesn’t cover. Their goal is to get you back on your feet, but not necessarily back to the same living standard as before.

FEMA and Disasters

At any given time, there are about 10,000 FEMA employees ready to be dispatched to the next disaster, whether natural or man-made. Most are reservists. Despite the good intentions of FEMA disaster relief workers, it is still a bureaucratic agency. Despite the fact that FEMA was formed to eliminate some of the multi-agency confusion, FEMA has to coordinate with several local and federal agencies.

FEMA and politics

In the worst of circumstances, FEMA disaster relief is a political tool. FEMA can’t do anything until the President declares a national emergency. Less than fair presidents can lavish resources on friendly states and hold back on others. Such accusations cloud President Trump in his response to Hurricane Maria and President Bush in his response to Hurricane Katrina. There is no proof that that was the case in either situation, but both responses show tremendous opportunities for improvements for FEMA disaster relief.

Scientists almost unanimously agree that climate change is a cause of increased natural disasters. However, under the Trump administration, FEMA is unconcerned. Their 2018-2022 strategic plan makes no mention of global climate change.

FEMA’s future is unclear. Washington Democrats want to strengthen the agency, while Republicans want to weaken it or eliminate it altogether.

Featured image: Public Domain, by Pete Souza, via the White House

How the American Red Cross Serves the Community

With chapters all over the country, the American Red Cross has been in the forefront of relief efforts for disaster victims without prejudice and discrimination.

For more than 130 years, the American Red Cross has mobilized relief efforts to those severely affected by disasters not limited to natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, fires, floods, and storms, but also human-made disasters. With a red cross emblazoned on a white background, its mission is to alleviate human suffering in times of crisis.

International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

It is America’s premier emergency response humanitarian organization, which is part of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). The IFRC is an umbrella organization with nearly 200 national Red Cross and Red Crescent chapters. IFRC unite these chapters during international disaster relief programs. The seven (7) principles help bond all its members namely: Humanity, Impartiality, Neutrality, Independence, Voluntary Service, Unity, and Universality.

According to Red Cross, their organization has responded every year to nearly 64,000 disasters, more than 50,000 relief items distributed internationally, more than 400,000 services provided to military families, and more than 7 million people received disaster assistance internationally.

It works together with other agencies and organizations that also provide disaster relief. As such, it is one of the most well-known humanitarian organizations in the world.

american red cross, american red cross headquarters building — “American National Red Cross Building” Image CC by 2.0, by Cliff, via Flickr

American Red Cross History

The History website recorded that the formation of the International Red Cross initially started with the vision of Jean Henri Dunant to have “volunteers who in time of war would give help to the wounded without regard for their nationality.”

The American Red Cross was founded on May 21, 1881, by Clara Barton. Before this, she nursed wounded soldiers and helped locate missing troops during the American Civil War. Witnessing the war firsthand, she lobbied the U.S. government to ratify the Geneva convention which was approved in 1882.

Since its founding, the American Red Cross has helped in disaster relief efforts which still continues today. During World War I and World War II, the American Red Cross also played a vital part in attending to and caring for wounded soldiers.

Milestones

In its early beginnings, it has provided relief efforts and medical assistance during the Pennsylvania Flood of 1889 and the Galveston, Texas tidal wave disaster of 1900. The Galveston, Texas disaster was documented as one of the worst disasters in US history. The coarse flood took the lives of 6,000 people, and which the American Red Cross has timely responded.

It has also deployed around 54,577 rescue workers and volunteers during the aftermath of 9/11 terrorist attack in New York on September 11, 2001.

Today, the International Red Cross, which the American Red Cross is part of, has over 13 million volunteers in 187 countries and counting.

Services Offered

The American Red Cross has various programs, in particular: Armed Forces Emergency Services, Disaster Services, Health and Safety Services, Blood Donation Drivers, and Volunteer Services, among others.

american red cross, american red cross truck — “American red cross truck” Image CC by 2.0, by Carissa Rogers, via Flickr

Red Cross Disaster Relief

The Red Cross Disaster Relief provides emergency services such as food, water, shelter, clothing, and counseling to disasters, among others. It opens shelters for people who lost their homes due to flash floods, earthquakes, and other calamities. Not only that, the American Red Cross distribute emergency supplies in the aftermath of the disaster and the weeks that follow. These emergency supplies range from food, medicines, water, shampoo, deodorant, toothbrushes and toothpaste to tools such as shovels, tarps and garbage bags.

Armed Forces Emergency Services

The Red Cross helps and supports Armed Forces soldiers, veterans and their families prepare and cope with the demands and effects of military service. They also help victims of war who are or were afflicted by hostilities, conflict, and war. It distributes health care packages among troops and also facilitates communication between the Armed Forces and their family.

Health and Safety Services

As you can see, American Red Cross jobs consist of serving those in dire need of help and doing it selflessly. It also has extended aid and relief efforts internationally partnering with the International Red Cross.

It leads blood donation drives as well as health and safety courses in many parts of the U.S. yearly.

Education and outreach program

The American Red Cross is America’s leading provider of health and safety education and outreach programs. It trains volunteers and community members in CPR, first aid, lifeguard training, and HIV/AIDS education, among others. It also has community service programs for the youth.

This organization also goes the extra mile. They send nurses, doctors, volunteers, and therapists to help victims on the site. These American Red Cross volunteers provide first aid treatment as well as emotional support and therapy to injured and traumatized victims.

Victims need not only food, water, and shelter but also psychological, mental and emotional therapy to help cope and recover. As such, the American Red Cross also deploys trained personnel that specializes in disaster counseling for the victims. Moreover, the organization also support these peopleas they get back on their feet again through referrals, transportation or occupational tools.

Blood donation drives

Plus, it also conducts blood donation drives. It is the largest single supplier of blood and blood products in the United States. According to Volunteer Your Time, nearly 4 million people donate blood through the Red Cross.

Each year, approximately 4.9 million units of blood are collected by the American Red Cross from an estimated 2.8 million donors. It also oversees the collection, testing, storage and distribution of blood donations.

The U.S. Armed Forces and hospitals all over the U.S. make use of the donated blood. The blood bank has saved thousands of lives in emergencies such as accidents, surgeries, and illnesses.

How to Become an American Red Cross Volunteer

red cross volunteer with disaster victim filling out paperwork — Image Public Domain, by FEMA Photo Library, via Wikimedia Commons

Are you thinking of taking part and getting involved in the work of the Red Cross? There is no better time than now. There are a lot of opportunities to volunteer with the American Red Cross.

Volunteers are vital in what the Red Cross does. In fact, volunteer disaster relief workers have carried out 90 percent of the relief efforts of the American Red Cross.

Interested? Then click on this link. The page will direct you to the official website of the Red Cross where you can apply as an American Red Cross volunteer. You can browse and filter volunteer opportunities in the specific community near you.

You can also choose your area of interest and find the best American Red Cross jobs for you by clicking on this link. These jobs revolve around important areas such as biomedical services; services to the Armed Forces; disaster or emergency services; health, safety and community services; and, international services. There are a wide range of positions available, as follows:

Nurses
Logistics
Marketing
Human resources
Information technology
Safety instructors
Finance
Sales or fundraising

You can also narrow down the search for American Red Cross jobs or volunteer opportunities by local chapter or state by clicking their website link.

Red Cross donations

Moreover, you may opt to donate to the American Red Cross instead. Any Red Cross donations are money well-spent. Donations go a long way in supporting humanitarian relief efforts and helping disaster victims. You can click on this link to access the Red Cross website where you can send your donation.

Charity Navigator has published that 81.1 percent or the equivalent of $567,552,118 of the American Red Cross funds come from donations, gifts, and grants.

This year, the American Red Cross has launched the “Sound The Alarm” campaign. It is an initiative to save lives through the installation of smoke alarms in homes. Kicking off the said campaign, the American Red Cross has donated more than 1,000 new free smoke detectors to be installed within Lexington and Richmond. To make this initiative a reality, the Red Cross has mobilized more than 200 new volunteers for the said campaign alone.

The Volunteers

American Red Cross volunteers perform various functions such as administrative work, disaster prevention or response, and medical-related services.

The volunteers deployed to disaster sites often experience hardships and extreme conditions to help those in need. The selfless acts that volunteers do in disaster zones are nothing less than heroic. They are considered “heroes” of those that they rescue, help and save. They show compassion, empathy, and care to distraught victims who desperately need it. Honoring their noble acts, the American Red Cross West Virginia was broadcasted to honor its volunteers who gave their time, knowledge, skills, and talent to help communities in time of need.

Honoring the American Red Cross Volunteers

In 1943, US President Franklin D. Roosevelt declared the month of March as the American Red Cross Month. This proclamation is in honor of the noble and charitable acts of American Red Cross Volunteers. It also celebrates the long history of charitable acts of the Red Cross across the United States and the world.

Today, it continues to be at the forefront of relief efforts in disaster zones. It remains to be a beacon of hope for those afflicted by calamities and crisis.

Featured Image: CC by 0 via Max Pixel

The 7 Types of Emergency Management Exercises

Being adequately prepared for an emergency is important for businesses, government agencies, as well as typical families. For larger organizations, management often turns to emergency management exercises for practice. These types of exercises vary considerably in both their complexity as well as their implementation.

With all exercises, they can be classified as either discussion-based or operations-based. In our article, we’re going to be covering the seven types of emergency management exercises that you should familiarize yourself with.

1. Seminars

Seminars are one of the first types of emergency management exercises that we will discuss. With seminars, participants are generally taught the basic core foundation elements that make up the disaster preparedness plan of a business or organization. For most businesses, seminars take place in the form of new hire orientation or onboarding. These types of events do not always have a live instructor thanks to the advent computer-based training modules.

For a seminar to be successful, attendees should walk away with enough basic knowledge to be able to identify emergency exits. They should also understand what various alarm codes mean and other information that is relevant to the type of organization or business that is involved. These types of events are often casual and only require minimal amounts of time to prepare.

2. Workshops

Workshops are another one of the types of emergency management exercises that we will discuss. With workshops, the main goal is to work together in a team atmosphere to establish new ideas, processes, and procedures. The most common way to conduct a workshop involves gathering all of the relevant department heads and other important officials.

Once everyone is gathered, a question and answer session is conducted to establish an open dialogue. Using member input, deficiencies in the current emergency response plan are identified and new procedures are developed accordingly. The level of planning with workshops is significantly higher than that of seminars. It also requires much more time to be able to perform these types of events effectively.

3. Tabletop Exercises

Tabletop exercises are another very common tactic that is used. This is especially true for emergency response groups like the Red Cross as well as groups like the National Guard. Similar to workshops, tabletop exercises tend to involve senior staff and appointed officials who play a key role in the development of new policies and procedures.

Where the two emergency management exercises differ is that tabletop exercises seek to develop an effective solution using a predefined hypothetical scenario. The events are typically much more structured than workshops and tend to be used to test current policies and procedures. These types of exercises require copious amounts of time and can last anywhere from several hours to multiple days.

4. Games

Somewhat similar to tabletop exercises, games are another one of the more effective types of emergency management exercises. Just like with tabletop exercises, games seek to test existing procedures and develop new solutions to hypothetical problems. Where they differ is that games are generally much more structured and have a relatively large set of rules to limit what can be done. With tabletop exercises, the discussions are often much less formal.

Games are especially useful for testing member’s ingenuity and problem-solving skills. Games are a very common exercise method in high-security areas like nuclear power plants and manufacturing facilities. The reason for this is that games can be used to teach members what to do in the event backup systems fail and more.

5. Drills

Students in Santiago during an earthquake drill.

Drills are one of the most common types of emergency management exercises that are operations-based. These types of exercises are common for businesses, schools, government buildings, and more. Fire drills are the most frequently used type of exercise in this particular category.

With drills, the goal is to test the effectiveness of a given policy in a controlled and isolated environment. It has the benefit of providing instant feedback and requires minimum amounts of effort to prepare for. Though drills are mainly planned in advance, surprise drills can be used to provide even more effective feedback as well.

6. Functional Exercises

With functional exercises, the primary goal is to learn how effective an organization is at responding to a disaster even in a given area. Where it differs from other emergency management exercise types is that it mainly focuses on the command structure for a given organization.

For this reason, functional exercises are much more common in strategic environments like military organizations and certain key civic centers. They differ from drills in the sense that they often involve multiple functions at once and that they do not actually result in the deployment of any resources or personnel. Due to their nature, functional exercises are also commonly referred to as command post exercises.

7. Full-scale Exercises

Out of all the types of emergency management exercises covered in our article, full-scale exercises are the most difficult to perform. These types of exercises are reserved for large-scale use by the military and other high-security sectors. With full-scale exercises, multiple agencies work together in a high-stress environment to respond to a simulated emergency or disaster event.

These exercises involve the actual mobilization of personnel and equipment to the simulated area to gauge their effectiveness and response times. Depending on the scenario being practices, the time frame can vary substantially from days to weeks. The scenario itself is often fine-tuned and is fully scripted in advance to practice in a controlled manner.

Summing Up

No matter what types of emergency management exercises you decide to use, the key is to practice them regularly and correctly. By reading our article, you should now have a sound understanding of the seven different emergency exercise methods and how they are best used. Take your time formulating your training plan and remember to update it as needed for maximum effectiveness. If you have any training tips you would like to share, feel free to tell us about them below. Sharing our article is always appreciated as well.

Image Source: 1, 2, 3

How to Get a Job in Disaster Relief

When choosing a career path, we think about financial security and paying the bills. We might also consider where on earth the path will take us—where do we want to live? Deep in the heart, nevertheless, is the yearning to do something significant, something that makes a difference. We want respect for what we do and we want to know we have helped people.

Few vocations can meet this mark like disaster relief. Risk, adventure, appreciation and emotional satisfaction come with the job. Witnessing pain, fear and grief do, likewise. For the stout-hearted, there are steps ready to take.

Determine Your Specialty

CDC Emergency Management Specialists — CDC’s Emergency Management Specialists (Image Source: CDC.gov)

If you wonder how to get a job in disaster relief, first remember that this is a wide-ranging field, employing a diversity of professionals. Furthermore, employers range from the federal government to local agencies to private organizations. An interested inquirer must decide the capacity in which he or she will serve. There are positions requiring the coordination of services; the relay of information at call centers; the management of logistics; and the basic provision of food and blankets, for example.

It is plain to see that each of these roles calls for differing levels of education, as well as diverse temperaments. A thorough self-evaluation is in order to find the proper fit, and then proceed accordingly. Although the U.S. Department of Labor recognizes the occupation of “emergency management specialist,” it provides little definition beyond salary.

Determine Your Geographic Scope

As noted, emergency response officials can be national (even international) agents or hometown regulars. A Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) manager might continuously traverse the United States wherever flood, fire, hurricane of avalanche dictate. A local Red Cross coordinator, on the other hand, may occupy the same 10 mile radius for an entire career. This fact goes to lifestyle: if home and family are high priorities, your path best take a local route.

Geography serves to influence in another way. Those seeking exploits and new experiences are much more apt to choose a larger territory over city and region. How to get a job in disaster relief means asking yourself about your passions and motivations. The answer will help to decide on where and how far you are willing to go.

Research, Research, Research

Getting trained on how to install smoke alarms in District Heights — Image Source: RedCrossChat.org

With these answers in hand, aspiring disaster relief workers can now apply their aspirations to the problem of how to get a job in disaster relief. This requires knowledge. For a start, the FEMA careers web page provides numerous job listings, though some are in the political/administrative realm. Significantly, there are tasks found here that lend themselves to students or those simply wanting experience on a part-time basis. Work of this kind helps to confirm a career decision for emergency management.

Other federal agencies, like Housing and Urban Development, operate their own disaster response teams. Closer to home, states like New Jersey field catastrophic first response agencies, as well. Even large cities like Los Angeles must have an office handling crisis mitigation. Passionate individuals learning how to get a job in disaster relief do well not to neglect private charities. The International Committee for the Red Cross hires healthcare professionals, information technology specialists, linguists and interpreters, environmental scientists and forensic analysts for its mobile and resident field staffs.

Education and Training

Knowing the particulars of disaster relief opportunities enables potential workers to zero in on the training they will need to qualify for such employment. Certain jobs—physicians and nurses, e.g.—are easy to figure out. What about logistics? It sounds too broad to map out an educational route. Actually, though this field exists over a wide array of industries and endeavors, there are specific skill sets that make for good logisticians. Business and engineering programs help hone such talents. Others develop the same strengths serving in the armed forces.

While few, if any, majors in disaster relief are available, several institutions offer certificates in the subject. Many of these, as with the University of Massachusetts at Boston, are awarded in cooperation with FEMA. Especially convenient, some of this coursework is offered in online formats.

Getting Your Feet Wet…Blistered or Burned

Theoretical knowledge is an important component of training. Still, work experience is an invaluable factor in how to get a job in disaster relief. Working part-time for an emergency response organization yields greater comprehension about the sometimes unpleasant realities of catastrophic occurrences, be they hurricanes, tornadoes or explosions. Students should seek internships for credit (and sometimes for modest stipends). In addition to FEMA, the Red Cross and local outreaches, groups like Mercy Corps offer an assortment of summer and academic term internships.

Employers look favorably upon such experience because they know the candidate is disabused of idealized notions about emergency response. A seasoned applicant has suffered the boredom and frustration of red tape; knows the physical discomfort and emotional anguish involves. This is the kind of staffer who will stick around when the glory fades.

Flexibility Matters

Granted, a narrow focus is often cited as a key to success. However, breaking into a field is different from rising to the top. In other words, aspirants should not be too particular when asking how to get a job in disaster relief. A newly-minted hydroelectric engineer, finding no immediate openings in that profession, should consider doing a stint as a general laborer. With patience the job of choice will find you, if you are sincerely committed to the mission.

Summing Up

Pursuing work in disaster relief is a sign of diligence, compassion and idealism. Important to remember is that the jobs are plentiful, but not always attainable. Applicants with clear ideas about where they can fit in the emergency response vocational spectrum give themselves a leg up in the process.

At the same time, willingness to compromise on specific assignments makes candidates more marketable and hiring more probable. Ultimately, a systematic strategy of long-term focus and immediate adaptability wins out.