Message #11008

[msmarieh]

I was happy to get word this morning that my brother who works at the Pentagon is safe and sound.



The company where I am temping set up large screens with live tv coverage in our office cafeteria yesterday so we could watch the events. Ended up letting us leave after lunch as no one was getting anything done anyway.



I have volunteered with Red Cross disaster services for almost 10 years and sadly have seen many horrendous things but nothing on this scale. Unbelievable how sick some people can be.



My heart is indeed going out not only to the victims and their families but to the emergency workers. The devastation was so great that they will find few bodies and many body parts. It's a horrible horrible experience. I have known rescue workers that were served ground beef after plane crashes and became physically ill almost to the point of a nervous breakdown. We have actually established food guidelines at disasters for this very reason: no ground meat products, no red or brown products to remind people of blood (for goodness sake don't serve chili!), etc. The Red Cross, Fire departments, police departments and other emergency personnel have trained for this type of disaster year after year but they still never truly expect to use their training. I myself have cross trained in preparation for not only natural disasters, but nuclear accidents and terrorist attacks.

Certainly they pray that it does not become necessary.

If you want to help, there are several ways you can (and some ways you SHOULDN'T!).



1) DO donate blood. Contact your local Red Cross, LifeSource, Hospital, etc. However, be prepared for very long lines. With all the coverage, people know this is one of the few ways they can help and they are overwhelming the centers this week. The reality however is that the blood supplies will be needed for weeks. Consider waiting a week before you call so that they will have a steady stream of incoming blood, rather than a flood of blood initially. Most of the current supplies will be sent to NY. Locally collected blood will most likely remain local to replenish the lost supplies.



2) DO donate money. Contact the Red Cross at 1-800-HELP-NOW. This is one of the most effective methods of helping. They use the  money in a variety of ways: providing meals for the victims and emergency workers, assisting with burial and other expenses of the victims, helping any displaced families with their short term emergency needs, acting as a disaster welfare inquiry liaison to reunite victims and families. I would also request that you donate to the GENERAL disaster relief fund, NOT earmarking the funds specifically for NY. I know after the LA earthquake they ended up with a ridiculous amount of money that had to be set up for earthquakes, but was far in excess of what they needed. They cannot then use the money where it would do the most good. In Oklahoma City, the Red Cross was the lead agency that worked with local agencies to distribute the funds collected fairly and appropriately.



I have not yet heard of condos/apartments in that area, but I would imagine that they have been affected as well.

3) DO stop and send up a prayer to whoever it is you pray to. We can never have too many prayers.



DO NOT help by sending used clothing, blankets etc. There are several reasons why the Red Cross prefers to use money to purchase new articles of clothing when possible rather than providing used clothing: 1) It is a point of pride for the families when they have lost everything to be able to buy something new; 2) It helps to rebuild the local economies that are often affected if not devastated during disasters; 3) It allows consistency of service to disaster victims.



IF the emergency service personnel need anything, they will publicize the request. Exceptions would be corporate in-kind donations such as truckloads of bottled water, cleaning supplies, etc. They will be happy to take these, but will need to plan for their receipt and distribution in advance.



DO NOT show up on the emergency site to offer assistance if you live locally. If and when they need volunteers they will put out the call. The reality is that they need TRAINED volunteers who already know what to do. While your concern is appreciated you are actually just becoming one more individual to be worried about at the scene and one more obstacle to the emergency personnel being able to move about freely.



Deep in prayer,



Marie