Storms 411

Help Me Understand -- Charities

I must admit that I'm very confused about charities. After reading several articles by Richard W. Walden [example], it seems that the American Red Cross isn't? what most people think it is:

This skewed giving to Red Cross would be justified if the organization had to pay the cost of the 300,000 people it has sheltered. But FEMA and the affected states are reimbursing the Red Cross under preexisting contracts for emergency shelter and other disaster services. The existence of these contracts is no secret to anyone but the American public. The Red Cross carefully says it functions only by the grace of the American people - but "people" includes government, national and local. What we've now come to expect from a major disaster is a Red Cross media blitz.

Many people prefer to give to faith-based organizations. But then this comes out: FEMA Plans to Reimburse Faith Groups for Aid.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency said yesterday that it will use taxpayer money to reimburse churches and other religious organizations that have opened their doors to provide shelter, food and supplies to survivors of hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

FEMA officials said it would mark the first time that the government has made large-scale payments to religious groups for helping to cope with a domestic natural disaster.

So what do these charity groups actually do with the money they receive? [via]

Day 36 – 9/26/05, FEMA Plans to Reimburse Faith Groups for Aid

Civil libertarians object; religious groups ponder what to do

After weeks of prodding by Republican lawmakers and the American Red Cross, the Federal Emergency Management Agency said yesterday that it will use taxpayer money to reimburse churches and other religious organizations that have opened their doors to provide shelter, food and supplies to survivors of hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

FEMA officials said it would mark the first time that the government has made large-scale payments to religious groups for helping to cope with a domestic natural disaster.

Civil liberties groups called the decision a violation of the traditional boundary between church and state, accusing FEMA of trying to restore its battered reputation by playing to religious conservatives.

Again, help the Red Cross help others. Give generously. Thanks!

Day 34 – 9/24/05, American Red Cross Response to Hurricane Katrina FACTS

The American Red Cross is responding to an unprecedented natural catastrophe even as it sheltered more than 63,000 people, in 163 shelters who evacuated prior to Hurricane Rita's landfall.

Estimated Cost: The American Red Cross estimates that Hurricane Katrina relief efforts will exceed $2 billion, meeting the urgent needs of nearly one million families in three key areas:

• Food and Shelter — $744 million
• Emergency Financial Assistance to Disaster Survivors — $1.4 billion
• Physical and Mental Health Services — $78 million

As of Sept. 22, 2005, approximately $693.4 million has been spent already or has been committed to meet emergency needs in the wake of Katrina.

Funds Received (As of Sept. 23, 2005): The Red Cross has received $891.3 million in gifts and pledges for the hurricane relief effort, of which approximately 33 percent is in pledges and an estimated $348 million has been received online.

The Red Cross has a four-star rating from Charity Navigator for its effective use of donations. At least 91 cents of every dollar donated to the American Red Cross goes directly to assist disaster victims.

[Read more - American Red Cross]

Again, help the Red Cross help others. Give generously. Thanks!

Katrina Aid Can't Cover Rita Needs

WASHINGTON - Much of the $1.1 billion donated to charities to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina may be unavailable to assist those affected by Hurricane Rita because of legal limits on how the organizations can use the money.

Laws in most states requiring charities to honor donors' intentions will hamper the charities' ability to use money raised for Katrina victims to aid survivors of Rita, relief organizations and legal experts said Thursday.

The situation has sent charities scrambling to reword fundraising appeals — or launch new ones — in order to free cash for what could be another catastrophe.

"It's a nightmare," said Maj. George Hood, a spokesman for the Salvation Army, which has raised $156 million to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Now, Hood said, the group will probably have to start a separate fund for Hurricane Rita donors.

The Red Cross, which has raised $827 million for Katrina relief, said Thursday that it also expects to set up a system to allow donors to designate contributions to Hurricane Rita relief.

Although there will be overlap because the storms are affecting some of the same areas, the money raised so far by the Red Cross "came in specifically for Katrina, and that is what it will be used for," said spokeswoman Devorah Goldburg.

Legal experts said charities are restricted by state laws that generally limit the use of charitable funds to their designated purpose. Diverting funds to a different cause could open charities up to prosecution by state attorneys general, said Jill Manny, executive director of the National Center for Philanthropy and the Law at New York University.

Many charities are also mindful of the controversy that ensnared the American Red Cross after the Sept. 11 attacks. The organization was criticized when it decided to reserve some of the money for causes other than helping Sept. 11 victims and their families. In the end, the Red Cross pledged to use the money solely for those affected by the terrorist attacks.
By JACQUELINE L. SALMON and ELIZABETH WILLIAMSON - Washington Post

'Girls Gone Wild' for Katrina

NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - The video makers known for filming women flashing their breasts are exposing a softer side in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

"Girls Gone Wild" plans to donate 100 percent of the proceeds from the sale of Mardi Gras-themed DVDs and videos to the Red Cross to help Katrina victims, the company said.

"Year after year the city of New Orleans and its citizens have welcomed us with open arms, and we have looked forward to our yearly trip to the Big Easy. The utter destruction of New Orleans and many parts of the Gulf coast truly saddens us," said Joe Francis, founder and CEO of Girls Gone Wild, in a statement.

The Mardi Gras-themed DVDs and videos include such titles as "Mardi Gras 3-Pack," "Mardi Gras 2K4," and "Girls Gone Wild Doggystyle" with rapper Snoop Dogg. [Read more - CNN Money]

Again, help the Red Cross help others. Give generously. Thanks!

Do-it-Yourself Fundraising

Individuals and Groups can Fundraise for Hurricane Katrina Relief

Welcome to DIYFundraising.com. Are you looking for creative fundraising ideas for your nonprofit organization, club, team, school, or victims of Hurricane Katrina?

Norfolk Southern Supports Community and Employee Hurricane Recovery Efforts

NORFOLK , VA -- Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) is providing $1 million for community recovery efforts, while enhancing its other relief-related programs in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

In communities along its lines in Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi, Norfolk Southern will contribute directly to local and state emergency responders and other community organizations a total of $500,000.

At the same time, Norfolk Southern is matching employee donations to designated national relief organizations, up to a maximum corporate donation of $500,000.

“Norfolk Southern has served the people and industries of the Gulf states for more than 130 years,” said Norfolk Southern Chairman and Chief Executive Officer David R. Goode. “For our local employees, customers and neighbors, we join with those around the world who are devoting their resources to the relief effort.”  [Read more - NSCorp]

Norfolk Southern continues to reroute freight that formerly would travel through New Orleans , and operations are normal with the exception of those in New Orleans itself and on the railroad’s bridge over Lake Pontchartrain . Repairs continue on the bridge, which when reopened will be a key artery for transporting rebuilding supplies and equipment. 

Again, help the Red Cross help others. Give generously. Thanks!

Day 13 – 9/4/05, Kuwait pledges $500M for hurricane relief

KUWAIT CITY — The oil-rich Persian Gulf state of Kuwait said Sunday it will donate $500 million in aid to U.S. relief efforts after Hurricane Katrina.

The offer is the largest known put forward since the hurricane ravaged Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama and follows a $100 million aid donation from the emir of a Mideast neighbor, Qatar.

Kuwait's energy minister said his country would provide "oil products that the disaster-stricken states need in addition to other humanitarian aid."

"It's our duty as Kuwaitis to stand by our friends to lighten the humanitarian misery and as a payback for the many situations during which Washington helped us through the significant relations between the two friendly countries," Sheik Ahmed Fahd Al Ahmed Al Sabah said in a statement carried by Kuwait's official news agency, KUNA. [Read more - WWLTV]

Again, help the Red Cross help others. Give generously. Thanks!

How to help Katrina's Victims, get Information

As the Gulf Coast begins to dig out in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, emergency organizations are executing cleanup and rescue plans, seeking donations and setting up outlets to provide information on the storm and its victims.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency is taking the lead role in coordinating relief efforts. The agency is posting information about the storm on its Web site at http://www.fema.gov/.

State responses are being coordinated by the Louisiana Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness; the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (site down as of Wednesday morning). The Louisiana Governor's Office and the City of New Orleans also posted emergency information on Katrina on their Web sites.

The relief effort is still being hampered by flooding in some areas. Up-to-date information can be found at these Web sites: The National Weather Service and the Hydrologic Information Center (river flooding only).

The American Red Cross opened a telephone hotline on Sunday to receive for donations from citizens. The number is 1-800-435-7669. Other information on Red Cross emergency programs is available at the Red Cross Web site. And Red Cross shelter information for Louisiana is available by calling 1-800-469-4828.

Other relief organizations soliciting donations included:

• Episcopal Relief & Development
• United Methodist Committee on Relief
• Salvation Army
• Catholic Charities
• National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster
• Louisiana Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

The Salvation Army's Team Emergency Radio Network was taking requests for information on the welfare and status of loved ones in the hurricane area at its Web site.

As of 9 a.m. ET, the Federal Aviation Administration reported that airports had been closed in New Orleans; Baton Rouge; Mobile, Ala.; Gulfport-Biloxi, Miss.; and Pensacola, Fla. Major delays were expected at other airports in the Southeast and the domino effect from them could spread all the way across the country. Further information was available at http://www.faa.gov/.

Day 7 - 8/29/05, American Red Cross Launches Largest Mobilization Effort in History for Hurricane Katrina

WASHINGTON, Monday, August 29, 2005 — The American Red Cross is launching the largest mobilization of resources in its history for a single natural disaster. Hurricane Katrina, a deadly Category 4 storm, is barreling ashore this morning along the Gulf Coast and has the potential to leave widespread devastation in its wake.

"Hurricane Katrina is wreaking havoc for southeast Florida and the Gulf coast states," said Joe Becker, Senior Vice President of Preparedness and Response for the American Red Cross. "The Red Cross will meet the challenge by doing what we do best—coming together to respond with tireless compassion to take care of our neighbors."

The Red Cross is mobilizing on all fronts to bring relief to storm victims. More than two hundred Red Cross shelters are housing thousands of residents who fled Katrina’s wrath. All available resources from across the country, including thousands of staff and volunteers are being moved to safe areas, so additional relief efforts can begin immediately after the storm passes. More than 200 emergency response vehicles (ERVs) and countless other Red Cross resources are en route or on the scene to provide hot meals, snacks, bottled water and distribute other much-needed relief supplies. In coordination with the Southern Baptists, preparations have been made to provide more than 500,000 hot meals to storm-weary residents each day.

"We are prepared at every level for what will likely be a catastrophic disaster," said Lois Grady-Wesbecher, Manager of the Disaster Operations Center at American Red Cross national headquarters. "When Mother Nature is at her worst, the American Red Cross is at its best."

Hurricane Katrina strengthened into one of the fiercest storms ever seen in the U.S. Not only has Katrina intensified, but it has also grown substantially in size—it is now about 460 miles wide—the distance from New Orleans to Atlanta. Destruction from this storm will not be limited to coastal areas. After making landfall Hurricane Katrina will progress inland Monday leaving behind a trail of flooding rains and damaging winds, spreading across the country and eventually into the Northeast. The Red Cross will continue to provide a safe haven and disaster assistance to victims along its path.

American Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from the American people. You can help the victims of this and thousands of other disasters across the country each year by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, which enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to those in need. Call 1-800-HELP NOW or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Contributions to the Disaster Relief Fund may be sent to your local American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P. O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. Internet users can make a secure online contribution by visiting www.redcross.org

American Red Cross - Online Donation Form

Online Donation Form:

Hurricane experts predict that this will be one of the most active hurricane seasons in recent history. Hurricane Katrina is the eleventh named storm in this busy 2005 hurricane season. The Red Cross is responding to the victims of Hurricane Katrina, flooding in Texas, as well as preparing to respond to the next disaster, wherever that may be. You can help the victims of thousands of disasters across the country each year, including hurricanes, by making a financial gift to the Disaster Relief Fund, which enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to those in need. 

The American Red Cross is not a government agency and all Red Cross disaster assistance is free thanks to the generosity of people like you.The value of your donation is increased by the fact that the ratio of volunteer Red Cross workers to paid staff is almost 36 to one.
Contributions to the American Red Cross, a tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, are deductible for computing income and estate taxes. 

Again, help the Red Cross help others. Give generously. Thanks!