Helping after a disaster: volunteering & giving wisely

Financial gifts to recognised disaster relief organisations are described by Ready.gov as the fastest, most flexible and most effective way to donate.

FEMA asks people not to go to disaster areas on their own. Trusted organisations know where volunteers are needed and can give the right training and support.

Recovery can take months or even years, and volunteers are often needed long after news coverage ends.

SAMHSA notes that disaster work is personally rewarding but can also affect helpers in harmful ways, including volunteers with community and faith-based groups.

Relief organisations know what survivors need and can buy supplies in bulk, often at a discount.

Needs change quickly after a disaster. Money lets groups switch from water to tarps to rent help as things change.

Some relief groups buy from local businesses, which supports the area’s economy as it recovers.

The FTC suggests designating the disaster when you give, so your money goes to that relief effort rather than a general fund the charity could use for any of its work.

FTC tips

• Don’t give by cash, gift card or wire transfer
• Keep a record of every donation
• Pay by credit card or check
• Make sure you know who receives the money before you click a donation link

FEMA asks people not to donate expired, broken, used, unclean or inappropriate items.

Every box that isn’t needed has to be stored, sorted or thrown away, often by tired volunteers who could be helping survivors instead.

If your school, workplace or faith group wants to collect

• Ask a named relief group what they need, and how much
• Agree on a drop-off place and date before you start
• Collect only the items on their list
• Consider turning it into a fundraiser instead

Be careful if someone

• Asks for cash, gift cards or a wire transfer
• Gives vague, emotional claims but no details on how the money will be used
• Is a charity that seems to have sprung up overnight after the news
• Rushes you to give right now
• Uses a local-looking phone number (caller ID can be faked)

Ways to check

• Check whether it must be registered with your state charity regulator (find yours at nasconet.org)
• Look it up with charity watchdogs such as BBB Wise Giving Alliance or CharityWatch
• Search its name plus “complaint”, “review”, “rating” or “scam”
• Use the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search to see if a gift is tax deductible

The FTC also suggests choosing groups with a proven track record of disaster work.

FTC tips

• Don’t click links or open attachments in donation emails unless you know the sender
• Don’t assume charity posts on social media are legitimate: research the group yourself
• When texting to donate, confirm the number with the charity first

Before you give

• Find out who is behind the fundraiser and how the money reaches the family
• If a friend shared it, contact the friend separately to check
• Ask how much the platform keeps in fees
• Know that gifts to individuals are not tax deductible

Report charity scams to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, and to your state charity regulator.

For fraud linked to a disaster, the U.S. Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud takes reports at 866-720-5721 or through its online complaint form.

Common problems

• Being injured in unsafe buildings or debris
• Needing food, water and a place to sleep that survivors need too
• Making things harder for responders who must coordinate them
• Not knowing who is in charge, or where help is needed most

FEMA suggests checking your state’s emergency management agency website or your state’s Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD) website to find trusted groups.

National VOAD is a coalition of more than 70 national organisations, including faith-based and community groups, plus 56 state and territory VOADs.

Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) programs train volunteers in fire safety, light search and rescue, team organisation and disaster medical operations. There are more than 3,200 local programs in all 50 states.

Ready.gov also points to free FEMA online courses and Red Cross classes, such as CPR, as ways to prepare.

About 90% of the American Red Cross disaster workforce is volunteers, helping with shelter, food, emotional support and more.

Faith communities, food banks and local nonprofits often need help too, especially with sorting, cooking, childcare and rebuilding.

Skills groups often need

• Childcare and activities for kids in shelters
• Cooking, driving and deliveries
• Data entry, phone lines and paperwork help
• Speaking other languages, including sign language
• Trades like carpentry, plumbing and roofing

A simple calendar reminder can turn one burst of help into steady support. Later gifts and volunteer hours often go further, because fewer people are still giving.

Your state VOAD can point you to groups still working on recovery long after the emergency phase.

A kind message, a meal or a quiet visit around an anniversary can mean a lot. Survivors often feel forgotten once the world has moved on.

Ideas

• A spare room, couch or laundry machine
• Childcare or pet care while they deal with paperwork
• Help sorting forms, calls and insurance photos
• Meals, rides or a phone charger
• Muscle and tools for clean-up, once it’s safe

Some people want to talk about what happened; others don’t. Follow their lead, and avoid asking for upsetting details.

Offering a play date, a quiet space or help getting kids back to school can give parents breathing room.

SAMHSA suggests

• Getting trained and knowing your role
• Knowing your own signs of stress
• Planning how you’ll stay in touch with loved ones
• Thinking twice about deploying if you’ve recently had a death or trauma in your own family

SAMHSA suggests

• Check in with a buddy or teammates regularly
• Eat well, drink water and get enough rest
• Limit time in the most intense settings
• Remind yourself this is not happening to you or your loved ones
• Take regular breaks

SAMHSA suggests

• Alternate hard tasks with lighter ones on long assignments
• Keep using calming skills like slow breathing
• Pay extra attention to rekindling relationships with family and friends

Watch for

• Being unable to relax off duty, or trouble sleeping
• Feeling irritable, angry or deeply sad
• Trouble thinking clearly or making decisions
• Pulling away from people
• Taking unnecessary risks or drinking more

SAMHSA notes that some helpers reach a limit in their ability to keep giving care and empathy, known as compassion fatigue. It’s okay to step back and tell your team leader.

Ideas

• Give to an established group with a track record in that region
• Help a friend from that area check on family
• Join a fundraiser through a trusted local group
• Sign up for future training, like CERT, so you’re ready next time

Try this

• Check trusted news once or twice a day
• Turn off auto-play for disaster videos
• Share only information from official sources, so rumours don’t spread
• Do something calming after hard news

Being safe isn’t something you need to earn or apologise for. Guilt can be turned into gentle action, and rest is allowed too.