Bellingham officials tracking hurricane relief efforts applaud the outpouring of support in our community, and urge people who want to help to do so within existing systems.
Voluntary organizations are seeking cash donations to assist victims of Hurricane Katrina in Gulf Coast states, according to emergency management officials. Potential volunteers should not report directly to the affected areas unless directed by a voluntary agency.
It is important that volunteer response is coordinated by the professionals who can direct volunteers with the appropriate skills to the hardest-hit areas where they are needed most. Self-dispatched volunteers and especially sightseers can put themselves and others in harm's way and hamper rescue and relief efforts.
Volunteer agencies provide a wide variety of services after disasters, such as clean up, childcare, housing repair, crisis counseling, sheltering and food.
Officials say cash donations are especially helpful to victims, allowing volunteer agencies to issue cash vouchers to meet victims’ needs. Cash donations also allow agencies to avoid the prohibitive costs and efforts required for transporting, storing and distributing donated goods.
For comprehensive information about what you do to help, visit the Federal Emergency Management Agency website at http://www.fema.gov
