8A COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL October 12, 2016
Are you ready?
D ISASTER P REPAREDNESS
Warning signs of disaster scams
When natural disasters strike,
many people immediately ask
what they can do to help. Some
may volunteer at disaster sites,
while others may offer fi nancial
donations from afar.
While donors’ efforts are al-
ways sincere, some of the peo-
ple soliciting those donations
may be anything but. The Inter-
net and smartphones have made
it easier for criminals to defraud
well-intentioned men and wom-
en who simply want to help at
a time when that help is sorely
needed. Fraudulent websites,
bulk email solicitations and tex-
ting scams that encourage dona-
tions are each means by which
criminals take advantage of
conscientious donors.
As eager as prospective do-
nors may be to lend a fi nancial
hand when disaster strikes, it’s
important to take the time to
confi rm that an organization is
legitimate and not an operation
organized by fraudsters looking
to make a fast buck. The follow-
ing are a handful of red fl ags
that may indicate an organiza-
tion seeking fi nancial donations
in the wake of a disaster is not
what it says it is.
• Demands: Legitimate orga-
nizations will never make de-
mands of prospective donors, so
men and women should be wary
of organizations that solicit on-
the-spot donations. Reputable
organizations, such as the Red
Cross, have enough resources
to respond to natural disasters
without demanding immediate
action from donors.
• Hesitancy to share informa-
tion: Reputable organizations
are transparent with regard to
sharing information about their
programs, relief efforts and allo-
cation of donations. If solicited
by an organization that seems
hesitant to share information
about itself, donors should po-
litely hang up the phone or walk
away.
• Request for personal infor-
mation: Some scammers will
attempt to gather personal in-
formation, including social se-
curity numbers and credit card
numbers, over the phone. Never
share your social security num-
ber with anyone, and keep in
mind that the majority of chari-
ties can now accept donations
online, removing the need to
share credit card information
over the phone. Stop speaking
with solicitors who continue to
ask for personal information.
• Checks: Some scammers
will request that donors make
donation checks out to fundrais-
ers and not an actual organiza-
tion. When making a donation
to charity, make the check pay-
able to an organization and not
an event. Confi rm the organiza-
tion is legitimate by visiting its
website.
• Name: Many fraudsters go
to great lengths to defraud well-
intentioned men and women.
Natural disasters typically lead to a spike in charitable donations. But donors must be wary of scammers looking to take advan-
tage of their generosity.
Some even establish fake or-
ganizations and websites with
names that sound very similar
to legitimate charities. Such
websites may be linked through
fraudulent email solicitations,
and they are often designed to
mimic the websites of legitimate
organizations. Never donate via
links in emails. Instead, type the
name of a charity into a search
engine, confi rming it’s the actu-
al charity you wish to work with
and not a fraudulent entity with
a very similar name.
Donating in the wake of a
natural disaster is a thoughtful
gesture. But donors must be on
the lookout for scammers look-
ing to take advantage of their
generosity.
Disaster relief: Guidelines for giving
Disasters are defi ned as
accidents or natural catastro-
phes that cause widespread
damage or great loss of life.
Disasters are often unpredict-
able and can occur anywhere
around the world. When di-
sasters happen, survivors are
often in need of assistance.
Disaster relief support is
charitable giving at its fi nest.
But helping after a disaster
requires both forethought
and strategy so donors can
rest easy knowing their do-
nations are going to the right
place.
Work with reputable orga-
nizations
If your fi rst inclination is to
provide fi nancial support, do
so by working with a repu-
table charitable organization
that has a proven track record
with disaster relief. Charities
like Oxfam, the Red Cross
and Direct Relief Internation-
al organize relief efforts and
are fi rst on the scene when
disaster strikes. These groups
may be more trustworthy
than groups without a track
record of success regarding
disaster relief. According to
the Center for International
Disaster Information, fi nan-
cial contributions allow pro-
fessional relief organizations
to purchase what is most
needed by disaster survivors,
when it is needed. Also, cash
donations allow relief sup-
plies to be purchased near
the disaster site, avoiding
delays and steep transporta-
tion and logistical costs that
can quickly eat up relief fund
budgets.
Confi rm the need before
sending materials
Many people feel a desire
to send material donations in
addition to cash. Sometimes
there are opportunities to do
so, but do your homework
before sending supplies, as
some organizations ask that
supplies not be sent.
If there is no need, unso-
licited materials can cause
supply delays, take up stor-
age space and/or require
additional funds to remove
unnecessary items. Further-
more, the cost to ship mate-
rial supplies (that may not
be useful) can be expensive.
Disaster relief organizations
typically can secure the nec-
essary supplies, which is why
many organizations request
only fi nancial donations.
Get clearance before visit-
ing disaster zones
Images of disaster zones
can incite strong feelings
that compel people to trav-
el and help out in person.
While that’s a noble gesture,
receive clearance before pur-
chasing a plane ticket. The
website HelpInDisaster.org
can help people with special-
ized skills learn if there is a
need for skilled workers or
experts in a particular disas-
ter zone. This ensures efforts
can be sustained for as long
as is necessary, and there
will be no duplication of ef-
forts. Working individually
also may not be cost-effec-
tive, and you may compound
the problem by causing more
drain on an already jeopar-
dized infrastructure.
Wait until media coverage
has subsided
Many people rush to give
in the fi rst days following a
disaster, only to have efforts
trickle away as time passes
and the limelight has stopped.
Instead, wait out volunteer-
ing opportunities. You may
fi nd you are more effective
afterward as rebuilding ef-
forts begin anew.
Helping out after a disaster
can be a fulfi lling venture if
timed correctly and done in
the correct manner.
Emergency responders need support, too
Emergency responders, which
includes the police, fi refi ght-
ers and paramedics who are the
fi rst to arrive at the scene of an
incident, are in the business of
protecting others and helping
to save lives. These workers are
on call during natural disasters,
technological failures, terrorist
attacks, and many other poten-
tially traumatic events. Emer-
gency responders are the unsung
heroes of many communities
that they work hard to keep safe
and secure.
While emergency responders
are heroes, it’s important that
people know these brave men
and women sometimes need as-
sistance, too. The pressure and
stress associated with being an
emergency responder can some-
times be overwhelming, and it’s
times like that when emergency
responders need help.
Comprehensive statistics on
stress-related medical condi-
tions among fi rst responders
are diffi cult to tabulate because
many incidents go unreported or
unshared. However, pressures of
the job and post traumatic stress
disorder, or PTSD, can take its
toll on paramedics and law of-
fi cials. EMS World reports that,
between January and Septem-
ber of 2014, the United States
had around 58 documented
fi re/EMS suicides. In Canada,
25 fi rst responders were known
to have committed suicide in a
fi ve-month period in 2014.
Addressing the stress of be-
ing an emergency responder can
help responders and their fami-
lies better cope with the pressure
and stress of the job. The Na-
tional Institute for Occupational
Safety and Health recommends
that all workers involved in fi rst-
responder activities should help
themselves and others to reduce
the risk of stress-related psy-
chological and physical health
effects from their jobs.
Certain symptoms and be-
haviors may present themselves
when emergency responders are
having diffi culty coping with
the demands of the job. These
symptoms may include:
• Changes in sleeping pat-
terns
• Passive or fatalistic behav-
ior
• Frequent confl ict and argu-
mentative behavior
• Limiting social networks
and general withdrawal
• Poor problem-solving abili-
ties
• Poor concentration
• Inability to rest
• Self-medicating with alco-
hol
While there is no single meth-
od to cope with the physical and
psychological demands of a fi rst
reponder’s job, a combination of
therapies can help. The Centers
for Disease Control and Pre-
vention advises that responders
need to take care of their own
health to maintain the constant
vigilance they need for their
own safety. These steps can put
workers on the right track.
• Form a support network in
which each responder looks out
for one another. Knowing sup-
port is available can be a big
help.
• Take frequent breaks to clear
the mind and rest the body. Try
to take breaks away from a work
area.
• Accept what cannot be
changed, such as chain of com-
mand or long hours.
• Take advantage of mental
health support services when
they are made available. Rec-
ognize that it is not indicative
of weakness to discuss diffi cult
emotions.
• Maintain a healthy eating
pattern and try to get adequate
sleep.
• Exercise, which can re-
duce feelings of stress and be
a healthy way to clear the mind
and strengthen the body.
Recognizing that emergency
responders are not invincible
and may need some emotional
support can be the fi rst step in
getting these workers the help
they need and deserve.
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Make sure all the pieces are in place to render you and your family prepared in the event of a natural disaster.
• Listen to radio or television newscasts for the latest weather information, and follow all evacuation directions and suggestions.
• Keep a stock of non-perishable food items as well as bottled water on hand inside your home.
• Keep a 72 Hour Kit on hand inside your home that is easy to get to in the event of a disaster.
For more information and tips on disaster response and preparedness, contact your local emergency services center.
South Lane Fire & Rescue • 233 Harrison Ave, Cottage Grove 541-942-4493 • 55 South 1st Street, Creswell 541-895-2506
Twitter: @southlanefi re
Facebook: southlanecountyfi reandrescue