In the wake of the August 14th earthquake in Haiti, many people have asked how they can help. When considering how to help, it’s important to understand the bigger picture. This post looks at three stages of disaster response and gives some ways you can help with each stage.
After a disaster, the immediate need is RELIEF, defined as “urgent and temporary provision of emergency aid to reduce immediate suffering.” Relief may include emergency medical care, food and shelter for those displaced. In regards to the recent earthquake in Haiti, there are several organizations that are providing immediate relief. If you would like to give to this effort, here are a few to check out:
These organizations and others are currently providing medical care for those injured, advocacy and family support for those transferred to hospitals in Port-au-Prince, tarps, tents, food and supplies to those displaced, and trauma therapists for those suffering unbearable losses. Follow @HEROClientRescue to see what they have been doing.
After a few weeks to a month, relief is no longer the appropriate response and the need becomes to REBUILD. When a disaster such as an earthquake or a hurricane hits, there are often thousands of people displaced. Rather than packs of rice and a tarp to sleep under, the needs become rebuilding homes and restoring social structures. Extollo International is a Christian organization that provides training in high-standard construction and is working to bring better building practices to the country. In addition to buildings, social reconstruction is also needed. Local NGOs, churches and other social organizations are key to helping the communities rebuild, and rebuild stronger.
Once a community has rebuilt, the need becomes DEVELOPMENT. This stage is focused on improving the “normal” and looks well into the future. Development may include job creation, economic development, and strengthening social systems. Also a part of development is PREPAREDNESS. This includes creating strategic plans for future disaster response and educating and equipping response teams.
Project Living Hope has continued to emphasize DEVELOPMENT through our mission to Empower Haitians to Build a Stronger Haiti. PLH programs in athletics, job skills training, and community development all work towards this goal of development by working to create stronger communities, jobs, servant leaders, and a united effort. The fourth key area of PLH is disaster preparedness. This program has responded to urgent and widespread needs in our community through food assistance, job creation and partnerships with local churches. This program is ready to grow to provide disaster relief, rebuilding and development to help families and communities affected by natural and man-made disasters. The program will focus on community preparedness before disaster hits and partner with organizations already working in relief and rebuilding efforts.
PLH is starting to put together a small committee to head up the development of the PLH disaster preparedness program. This committee will help develop a formal written plan which will outline the process of training locals, stocking emergency supplies, carrying out disaster response plans, and using our campus and facilities to best support these efforts. If you have knowledge and experience in the area of disaster preparedness, we would love to speak with you about an opportunity to serve on the committee. Email us at info@plhope.org.
How you can pray:
Pray for the displaced. Thousands of people are still unable to return to their homes as aftershocks continue daily and engineers have not yet cleared buildings for reentry.
Pray for those who have lost loved ones. The earthquake occurred around 8:30am local time, so thankfully most people were up and out of their homes. Many people, however, had loved ones back at home or in other locations who were killed by collapsed structures.
Pray for the relief workers as they work long days and nights to provide care.
Pray for the local organizations, churches, and communities in the affected areas that they can work together to bring fast and effective rebuilding and development.
Pray that in the wake of this tragedy, God can be seen at work and His love, grace and provision are felt by all.