Floods can be devastating. Depending on the severity, flood victims could lose everything they have: their home, their job, and even their loved ones. Regardless of whether you're donating money or volunteering to rebuild damaged homes, there are a number of ways you can give a helping hand to people in need.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Determine How to Help
Step 1. Determine where the flood occurred
You probably already have a specific flood path in mind, but if you don't, or if you're not aware of smaller-scale floods that occur around the world, the first step is to find out which regions have had these problems and need help.
- Depending on where the flood occurred, different humanitarian organizations will be involved in coordinating relief efforts.
- If the flood has occurred in the United States, the American Red Cross and Salvation Army are likely to organize relief and lead relief efforts.
- If it's an international natural disaster, find out if UNICEF or AmeriCares are helping the affected area.
- Visit the organization's website or call to find out what kind of help they provide and how you can best participate.
Step 2. Stay informed and updated over time
As the needs change, so do the ways in which you can help. Some of these might better match your capabilities or resources.
- Different needs will arise at different times in the crisis. For example, there will be new needs right after the disaster, and the area will also need to be rebuilt in the long term in the next few years.
- Sometimes an organization will reach maximum capacity with certain types of donations (such as clothing), but will have a deficit in another area. The best way to find out what is most needed is to frequently check the status of your relief efforts and needs by calling or checking for updates on your social media accounts.
Step 3. Determine how you would like to help
There are several ways to participate, and each has its advantages and disadvantages as outlined below and in the following sections.
- If you have money or extra items, you could make financial donations. If you have time, skills, or other supportive resources to offer instead of money, you can give them to people in need.
- There are advantages and disadvantages to each type of participation. In the case of donations, an advantage is that you can act quickly and leave the resources in the hands of the organizations that can determine how to help victims most effectively. One downside is that you won't know if all the money will go directly to the victims (you need to find out how the organizations handle donations before giving them to them). One of the most important advantages of volunteering instead of donating money is that you will have the feeling that you are actually helping directly as you interact with people. One possible downside is the danger and risk of injury that comes with traveling to flood zones.
Method 2 of 4: Make Donations
Step 1. Make a financial donation
Sending money is a simple and effective way to help.
- You must donate to a reputable organization, such as the Salvation Army, the American Red Cross, or UNICEF. Unfortunately, some bogus organizations can emerge after disasters as tactics to steal well-intentioned donations.
- Ask if you can make a donation by text message. A recent trend among rescue organizations is providing a phone number and password for people to donate. The amount you provide will appear on your next mobile phone bill. This is as simple as sending a text message, and much more meaningful!
Step 2. Donate Items
If you have extra or no-need items, you can donate them to flood victims in need.
- Lightly used clothing, socks, shoes, bedding, and blankets are almost always needed after a devastating flood.
- You can also help children affected by the floods by sending them books and toys.
- Buy and donate new, non-perishable food items and bottled water.
- First aid kits, tents, mosquito nets, soap, and hygiene products may also be necessary.
Step 3. Donate blood
Floods can cause serious injuries and more blood may be needed after the disaster. If there is a blood drive in your area and you meet the age and health requirements, you can become a donor.
Step 4. Donate your time off
Some large companies (especially government agencies or offices) allow people to donate their unused sick or vacation time to others in need. Contact the Human Resources Department employee at work and ask if you can transfer some of your time off to people who are unable to work as a result of the flood.
Method 3 of 4: Become a Volunteer
Step 1. Volunteer in the affected area
If it is safe enough to travel to the affected area, determine if aid organizations are looking for volunteers to help in the area.
- If you meet the requirements for height, weight, age, physical fitness, education, and citizenship, consider joining the National Guard. The National Guard is a part-time local affiliate of the US Army that provides assistance in the event of natural disasters (in the US and sometimes abroad) as part of its duty. After completing the basic training, you will be able to choose a short-term recruitment (three years) and then become a member of the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR), which is called in cases of emergencies such as natural disasters.
- Consider volunteering for Habitat for Humanities or other organizations whose mission is to remove debris, help homeowners salvage personal belongings, and rebuild damaged homes.
Step 2. Volunteer your professional services
Your time and talents are valuable resources that can help people in need.
- If you are a medical professional, determine if you can donate your medical services or supplies.
- If you are a contractor or work in the construction area, offer your labor, supplies, and other resources for rebuilding efforts.
- If you are a teacher or childcare worker, offer to help displaced families and their children.
- If you run a business, especially in areas around the flood, offer discounts or free items or services to disaster victims.
Step 3. Volunteer outside the affected area
Even if you can't be in the area, you can still make a big difference by volunteering.
- Contact the local branch of the relief organization that works with flood victims and determine if they need assistance at their call center, hotline, or donation processing center.
- You can also become a community liaison assistant by collecting local donations and taking them to the regional sorting center.
Method 4 of 4: Offer Support in Other Ways
Step 1. Offer shelter
If you live near the flood area and your home is intact, consider hosting a displaced family who may have lost their home and all their belongings in the disaster.
Step 2. Offer spiritual support
Many people turn to their faith during times of crisis and draw emotional and spiritual strength from the support of church and religion.
- If you are part of a church or religious organization, encourage your leaders to reach out to flood victims with tangible help and support.
- Some major faith-based organizations, such as the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team, dispatch crisis-trained chaplains to areas affected by natural disasters to coordinate relief efforts and provide more emotional and spiritual support to affected people.
- If you are a spiritual person, pray for the flood victims or reflect for a moment on the situation. Open your heart to the ways you can help and comfort people in need.
Step 3. Offer emotional support
In addition to other types of help, you will be able to do some basic and affectionate gestures for people in need.
- Ask how you can be more helpful to those affected by the flood. They may need a hot, homemade meal, help caring for pets, or photograph flood damage for insurance claims.
- Be a good listener and remember that sometimes it is best to just listen and not give your opinion or solutions without being asked.
- Remember that people need support in the days, months, and even years after natural disasters. Be aware that new problems and difficulties may arise, even after the flood has passed.
Warnings
- Do not go to flood areas without authorization and without being part of an organized relief effort. This could be dangerous for you and of little help to others.
- Make sure your donations go to a reputable organization so that they go to the right place.
- Don't try to provide emotional help and psychological support unless you are a trained professional.