Critical information/resources for those affected

[bvigal]

From involvement as EOC staff in several actual disasters, and as crisis intervention councelor, there are some suggestions and explanations which I can offer to those seeking information on family and property, or on returning home to effected areas. Hopefully this will help someone.

Once the storm has passed, the primary goal of emergency management is, of course, search and rescue. Coordination of the effort is often hampered by the constant barrage of thousands of media representatives bombarding management resources with calls wanting information. The press somehow manage to get all the unlisted, official numbers and call relentlessly. During one disaster, we couldn’t pick up the phone and dial out there was always a reporter on the line wanting to know “how many casualties?” The effort is to give them NO information, but to let that be disseminated and distributed through local political leader, or Information Officer – but usually that person is busy handling flow to/from other official agencies.


HEALTH & WELFARE – ARE MY LOVED ONES OK?

Do not attempt to call Emergency Operations, police, or any other response agency for information on your loved ones. They will not have any information, and you will only slow down their response efforts.

To request “health and welfare” information on loved ones, contact local ham radio operators outside the disaster area (if that’s where you are). Many hams belong to ARES - Amateur Radio Emergency Services, a nationwide network of volunteers who routinely put people in touch with information on their loved ones in a disaster area. In most states, ARES members are a critical element in disaster response, specifically tasked with handling those type of calls. They may also be privy to official information not yet broadcast.

Thus, hams all over the world can put out request for information by concerned family members onto certain radio nets. ARES operators on-air in the damaged area can respond when/if they get information from shelters, hospitals, FEMA, Red Cross, or other radio operators in the area.

If you are outside the disaster area, call the local police or emergency response agency, and ask them to put you in touch (either by giving you number or leaving a call-back number) with a member of the ham radio community who handles health & welfare messages. This person can, by radio, call out for information on your loved one. That request will be passed over and over on many frequencies by hundreds of radio operators, and likely you will find out what you need to know, though it may take time, so be patient.

Another resource is the Salvation Army. They have an ONLINE health & welfare request form at
http://qso.com/satern/emailfrm.htm


WHEN CAN I GO HOME, AND WHAT WILL I DO WHEN I GET THERE?

First of all, WAIT until officials announce you will be allowed into the area (that it is safe)!!

If you are currently evacuated, wondering about your property and what you will do when you return, you can do something while waiting which may be a great help upon returning home.

FEMA has page called “returning home after a disaster” - http://www.fema.gov/hazards/floods/coping.shtm

FEMA process for obtaining federal disaster assistance is also published onlinehttp://www.fema.gov/about/process/


I CAN’T SLEEP, THINK, OR STOP WORRYING!

Incident shock and post-traumatic stress have physical symptoms. Losing a loved one, home, pet, or even community can induce a serious shock to your mind and body. Ignoring it is not healthy. Talk about your fears and concerns with anyone who will listen, for as long as you feel the need. Tell your story over and over and over, if necessary, or, if no one to tell, write it down in a journal. If, after a week, you have trouble sleeping, unwanted thoughts, inability to work, or overwhelming fatigue for no apparent reason, consult a professional health care provider.


I’M NOT INVOLVED, BUT STILL FEEL A SENSE OF TRAGEDY AND DOOM

Some people have so much empathy for their fellow man, they become as emotionally tied to a disaster as its victims. If this is you, what a great human you are!! However, you may also find yourself suffering physical adverse reactions. Your prescription is to give yourself a break. Limit your time on forums, watching tv, or other exposures to the disaster, until you feel better. It doesn’t mean you don’t care. If the feeling of uneasiness continues after that, seek professional help. One thing that makes many people feel better is to help in some way. The best is make a donation to the Red Cross.

I’ll post some more as it occurs to me. I’m sure there are others, like azsnowman, who’ve worked disasters and have more to contribute here.

[bvigal]

Another idea, for any who may be stranded (out of hotel money) with nowhere to go. Call the local Salvation Army number in the phonebook. If they can't provide shelter, ask them to call local pastors who may provide shower/sleeping bag faciltities at a church, or have members willing to put you up in their home.

Also, you may wish to contact Red Cross to see about shelter availability closer to your home.

[MuleChewingBriars]

Here is the online donations site for the Salvation Army.

This is the one for the American Red Cross

Another one for the Catholic Relief Services

[bvigal]

Thanks for those links.

Another thing I forgot to mention... for those wanting to help. The Red Cross is going to need a lot of blood. If you can, donate locally. It will get moved where needed.

[artist]

great thread - thanks for starting.

[bvigal]

This posted on another thread, but being a resource, I'm posting it here, too. It's an adhoc bulletin board with messages all relating to Katrina - offers of help, pleas for help, request for information on missing family members, etc.
http://neworleans.craigslist.org/laf/


Here is a Hurricane Katrina Resource Page with ALL kinds of helpful information and phone numbers - whether you need help, or want to help:

http://www.mirawebdesign.com/katrina.html

[yzerfan]

Evacuee resources and information for those in the Ft. Walton Beach- Panama City- Marianna region of the FL Panhandle.

http://ap.emeraldcoast.com/evacuees.php

[bvigal]

****** Keeping Morale Up *******

Benefits:
1. Helps rescue efforts - more volunteers, better performance of emergency personnel, better cooperation among agencies
2. Helps victims on scene hold on for help, and perhaps even makes the difference between living and dying
3. Helps fundraising - more will be collected if people feel their money is being used effectively

Conclusion:
Criticism and finger-pointing DOES have a negative effect upon rescue/recovery efforts. Distractions of listening to, talking about, or instigating discussions regarding "what's wrong" with the ongoing efforts is non-productive. Anyone with that much time on their hands, please call your Red Cross and go donate blood. Or take your vacation and go to Texas or Louisiana and volunteer at a shelter. Plenty of help is needed. Plenty of time to criticize later.

Prescription:
FEMA BRIEFING- find it on CSPAN
I'm currently watching this morning's emergency briefing. NONE OF THE MAJOR MEDIA choose to carry this - as usual, they would rather shape "reality" for us, rather than let us hear for ourselves and form our own opinion.

This briefing is INCREDIBLY uplifting, and explains SO MUCH about what is happening, and the chain of events since before Katrina struck. The sick feeling in my stomach is gone, and I can now understand what has taken place. There are heros, working tirelessly, officials dealing with unimaginable obstacles, unseen in modern history of rescue efforts. So many have been evac'd. More are crawling up out of the devastation by the thousands, unaware of what's going on, showing up at the nearest gathering point: SuperDome, Convention Center, etc. It's not that they haven't "yet" evacuated those places, it's that they continue to fill!!!

Please, we all need to demonstrate hope, patience, and compassion, from the depths of our hearts, and with every ounce of resolve during this difficult time. And we need to continue to pray: for the victims, survivors, families, rescuers, volunteers in the shelters, Red Cross, Salvation Army, religious relief funds, officials with so much weight on their shoulders, and yes, even for the President. His shoulders hold the heaviest weight, it is beyond my imagination! Pray for his endurance and good judgement.

[bvigal]

found this list today on the Louisiana state website - has a website for locating missing persons, registries, etc. Scroll downa nd you will find a list that says Katrina Key Information and toward the end of that will be additional information for locating missing loved ones.

http://www.loep.state.la.us/

Good resource, Artist - Thanks!!

[bvigal]

...and yet another!

Here is a link to the different Parish websites with current info. Orleans Parish website is not working. Some others may not as well, but did check a few and some were with current info on return, etc.

http://www.loep.state.la.us/linkpages/parishpa.htm