How can I do hurricane relief work?

Question

okay so I want to do hurricane relief next year and I cant find any info also I have some questions

were can I stay (is it paid for in some programs)

how long can I do it

do any prodrams or jobs actually pay you

Answer 1

very simple, join the red cross, but you have to be ready for all disasters not just some.

Answer 2

Start with your local American Red Cross chapter.  All volunteers are trained in several areas.  There are a lot of classes to choose from and you will have to have to choose a minimum of 3 areas that you are willing to work.  There are classes in client services, driving the emergency response vehicle, sheltering, feeding, setting up satellite communications system , damage assessment.  Red Cross will not send you out without training.  It also requires a criminal background check, and if you are sent out, medical clearance.  You will have to be flexible, when you are out n the field, no 2 days are a like, where you sleep can be in a shelter or a motel, many times meals are just grab something, no set times.  The days are long and you will have to be able to put up with inclement weather, hot humid, rainy and steamy, everything is torn apart and some roads are difficult to travel.  Many times you will be in an area without street signs in an unfamiliar city and state .  You must stay a minimum of 3 weeks, preferably longer.

Answer 3

I do beleive that these people are all vbolunteers and no money is exchanged. this may not be the answer you are looking for but I worked with Hurricane katrina out of Austin and most of the displaced people think they own you. you have to do things you don't do for yourself.   The American Red Cross would be the group to go to in case of this type of emergency

Answer 4

slk has offered you some good advise. I just want to add a few things.

Depending on your age and strength, if your a young healthy man, you could put the tarps on the roofs of homes that have been damaged, they train you. You can partner up with someone. My nephew signed up with Fema and they paid him very well. I'm uncertain how much, I just know he was being paid well. But, he had to sleep in a tent with alot of other men.

I would recommend that you try to make yourself as mobile as possible, possibly a small RV/ van? Anything that you can call home. The areas that you will be going into are heavily damaged, no water, no electric. I would make sure that I had a generator to run my RV.

My husband and I are insurance adjusters, we are independts and work for the client. We live in our 42 foot fifth wheel, it is very comfortable with a washer, dryer, dish washer, queen size bed and full bath, also has an office for all of our computer needs.

You would also want something seperate to drive to job sites, I would recommend a truck for hauling ladders and supplies. That way you show up fully equipped, they pick you as a lead man, because you have the room to haul men and materials. I prefer a fifth wheel trailer. I can park my RV and go to work.

It's a great life style, if you don't like your neighbor, leave.

OK, OK, I'm rambling.

If you have any more questions, you can email me.

We have a satellite for Internet

Answer 5

Here's a web site where you can register and start your preparation so that you can help the next time disaster strikes:

http://www.helpindisaster.org/

There's also information there on which organizations are helping post-Katrina.

Also, see these volunteering sites, many of which list opportunities to help in Katrina-affected areas:

VolunteerMatch, http://www.volunteermatch.org

Idealist, http://www.idealist.org

Change.org, http://www.change.org

CraigsList, http://www.craigslist.com

Network for Good, http://www.networkforgood.org

http://www.1-800-volunteer.org/

ServeNet, http://servenet.org/

Also, contact your local volunteer center; you can find this via the Points of Light Foundation web site, http://www.pointsoflight.org/centers/