Some friends were forced to evacuate from the Galveston area. They finally found a hotel room in Temple , Texas . While eating dinner at a restaurant, the couple in the next booth overheard them talking about their "adventure", and wondering what the future held. The other couple turned out to be members of the local ward and invited them to bring their children to play at their home the next day, and then to stay for a good home-cooked meal. We may not live in an area where we can make such an offer but there is always something we can do to demonstrate our commitment to act as the Savior would if he was here.
Over the next weeks and months, help will be needed to clean up and help families rebuild their lives. After Katrina, we had friends in Texas who traveled with members of their ward, several times, to lend a hand in the clean up. People showed up from as far away as Atlanta and the Carolinas to help.
Whether you are the victim or the Good Samaritan wanting to help, there are some things you should know.
What can you expect to see when you arrive? There will be what you expect - trees down, roads buckled, debris covering roadways, homes that are uninhabitable – as well as things you may not be expecting. There will be mosquitoes. Whenever there is standing water mosquitoes will multiply by the minute. There will be mice, snakes and all manner of critters who have been displaced from their habitat, and they will be looking for food and shelter.
It is amazing how far from home alligators have shown up after a hurricane. There will be pets who have lost their way. Be very careful about approaching a pet. They will be hungry and frightened. If dogs are traveling in a pack do not try to approach them. Call authorities. None of this is anything to be feared, just be aware and be prepared.
If you are able to provide onsite aid, keep the following in mind as you prepare to leave your home:
When going into an area to help, bring all your own work and safety supplies. You will need work gloves, masks, goggles, hard hats, disinfectants (even just bleach), large heavy duty trash bags, sunscreen, insect repellent, hats, sun glasses, hand wipes or sanitizer, food and water. All of these items will be in very short supply in disaster areas, if they are available at all.
If you are traveling to an area where the electricity is out be sure to bring light sources, radios, and plenty of batteries. I love glow sticks. They are perfect for an emergency situation. They make a great source of light for a night light or to find your way around in the dark. They are unaffected by mud and water, safe for use by a child, and will not run down batteries. Never assume you can purchase items when you get there, plan ahead and take what you will need.
Your group should also bring with them their own shovels, brooms, wheelbarrows, chainsaws, nails, hammers, brooms, and other items which would be useful during a cleanup. Tarps are also an easy-to-pack item which has dozens of uses including shelter. In some cases, you may have to fend for yourself when it comes time to turn in for the night.
Since you will not know ahead of time exactly where you will be needed, be sure to bring with you a canteen or a lanyard that is designed to carry a bottle of water. There may be coolers of water available at a central location, but if you are asked to work in another area you will want to have a way to carry additional water with you.
You may have wondered why you would need a hard hat. We have a friend who was a Bishop in Victoria , Texas at the time of the Katrina disaster. He and members of his ward traveled to give service. When they arrived they were asked to act as the chainsaw crew. They traveled around cutting down partially downed trees, removing trees and debris from roadways and homes and removing brush and debris.
When packing clothing to wear while you are working, you do not know if you will be asked to man a chainsaw or sweep debris from a home, or nail a tarp to a roof. You need to prepare for any eventuality. You should pack long pants such as jeans and long sleeve shirts. It may get hot and you may roll up your sleeves as you work but should you be asked to move tree limbs or brush, a long sleeve shirt will help protect you from severe scratches and cuts. Be sure to take enough clothing as there will be no laundry facilities available.
Do not plan to wear tennis shoes when working. You may take those with you to travel in but be prepared with work boots or good hiking boots to work in. A pair of steel toed shoes would be best. Do not take new shoes. You don't want to add blisters to the mix. Remember to include good, heavy, socks. It is always a good idea to have more than one pair of shoes just in case one pair should become wet. If you are prepared, when you finish working you can change shoes and let the wet pair dry over night.
Now that you are properly prepared to go into a disaster area review the Meridian article Flood Clean-up: When the Real Work Begins. It will help you to understand the hazards involved in the clean-up process and will greatly reduce the risk of health related problems. Make a few copies and distribute them to everyone in your group. There are also tips on my blog: http://blog.totallyready.com.
Helping in other ways:
If you happen to live near an area that has seen real devastation, you may want to consider delivering a folding chair or beach chair to each family. There is only so long anyone can work before they just need a few minutes of rest. When I spoke with a survivor of the San Diego fires, she told me it was such a wonderful sight to pull into her neighborhood and see that someone had been through and left a folding chair at every home.
After 9/11 we heard rescue workers and clean-up crews needed work gloves. We collected gloves and sent them to a fire station in New York . We found people were more than willing to help and we even had an amazing response from high school students. You don't have to live close enough to a disaster area to help with these items. You can also send items to a Church or Bishop in the disaster area, and I am sure they will get them to families in need.
We often assemble hygiene kits to be taken into disaster areas. These are wonderful and a great family home evening, scout or young women's project. Why not think about a cleanup kit. You might include work gloves, hand sanitizer, sun screen, insect repellent and a hat. You could also make a cleanup survival kit with hard candies, gum, granola bars and a juice box. Think about the things you would appreciate if you spent the day in the sun, cleaning up a mess, after having lost treasured possessions.
I have been concerned about what people could do on an ongoing basis for those who have suffered a loss due to a disaster. As I was discussing this with my friend Bishop Donahoe, he told me to just tell people to become good home teachers. Exactly!
If we treat the families who have suffered in the same way we would treat the families we home teach, no matter how many miles away they live, and regardless of their religious affiliation, we will better understand their needs. You don't know anyone in the affected areas and you can't travel there to help? Call any Bishop or Stake president in any of the affected areas and tell them you want to help, or even better, ask your leaders to contact them through priesthood channels.
Often victims are forgotten once the next disaster occurs or time passes. This is a great time to help. We need to let people know that we have not forgotten them. The devastating fires in Southern California , almost 2 years ago, left thousands homeless. Many have still not been able to rebuild. Begin now to consider ways to help in a few months.
One of the items most appreciated by fire victims in San Diego was a cook book. Sound crazy? Not really. I had a friend who lost her home to a fire and she told me one of the things she was most sad about was losing all her recipes. Or, collect money and arrange with a wholesale nursery to purchase a plant for the front yard or a great indoor plant for everyone in a neighborhood.
If you belong to a quilting group (my other passion) make Thanksgiving table runners or wall hangings. Deliver a fruit basket or homemade breads to every home in a neighborhood. Have some "I survived Gustav (or Ike)" t shirts or hats made and deliver them. Use your imagination.
Again, if you are not living close enough to deliver these things yourself, mail them to someone who is. You can always get information from a Bishop or Stake President in the affected area and get their opinion of what might be most needed and most appreciated.
The important thing to remember is: Don't let the urge to serve pass without doing something. Do it now.
