1. Step 1

   Understand the needs of people at various stages. When friends and neighbors hear of the plights of people in a disaster, they tend to clean out their closets and want to contribute in this manner. While used clothing may be needed down the road, they are not needed immediately. Understand the stages of a disaster, and see how you can help at each stage.

2. Step 2

   If helping is something you enjoy, consider volunteering for the American Red Cross or other disaster services well BEFORE a disaster hits your area. The Red Cross is not government affiliated, and is wholly supported by contributions. They have excellent training, and will help you choose the classes that will best suit your needs. Their mission is to set up shelters for temporary sleeping quarters and meals until other arrangements can be made. They also feed emergency responders and help with communications for victims. It is an excellent organization, and will also be an excellent reference for you should you choose to join another help organization in the future.

3. Step 3

   When the flood warnings appear and the rain starts to fall, people will be sandbagging and doing things to help save their families, pets, and homes. Flooding often happens very quickly. Sand bags are usually furnished free from the county, and sandbagging is often done by the national guard as well as by the homeowners. If you are close to the area and you want to help, start by calling the mayor’s office to see if outside help is needed and where you can best help. Obviously, if you have friends in the area, call them, as they will often have the best local information.

   Unless you are very close to the area where the problems are, it often does not make sense to self-deploy into these areas. They will already have traffic problems in the area, and relocated people will be needing the hotel space.

   Listen to the radio, or call the mayor’s office. If there is a call for aid and you can, by all means, join in.

4. Step 4

   As kind and helpful as you are, self-deploying with the best of intentions can often cause suspicion. You may want to go from door to door helping pets, but if you are trying to get into someone’s home even with the best of intentions, you might be misinterpreted. So be sure to register and join an official helping agency.

   American Red Cross 1-800-REDCROSS
   Salvation Army www.salvationarmyusa.org
   United Way www.liveunited.org
   Mayor’s office of city needing help. You’ll have to look up the number. Also, remember that the city in the news may not be the only one needing help. Often neighboring cities need even more help since the media hasn’t spotlighted them sending help their way.

5. Step 5

   If you find a place to volunteer, be prepared. Think in terms of going camping to a remote area. Bring a sleeping bag, change of clothes, bottled water, work gloves, dry socks, rain gear, food. Bring a shovel, hand wipes, etc. You don’t know what the actual conditions will be when you get there, but there is a strong chance that some services might be interrupted. If you have extra that you can donate, bring extra gloves and equipment. Even if people mean to just “borrow” it, in all of the confusion, there is a strong chance that you might not find your equipment by the end of the day.

6. Step 6

   Contractors and people with special skills are often needed at the sight. These people should call the mayor’s office, which should have the best information on where these people can best help and whether or not the timing is right.

7. Step 7

   DONATE: Cash is preferred, particularly upfront. Know that the cash you donate usually will go to the organization for their contributions and help to the area, and not to the victims.

   The reason that cash contributions help the most in the area at the time of the disaster is because of the ability of cash to get exactly what is needed where it is needed.

8. Step 8

   DONATE EQUIPMENT and your TIME: United Way is often the key contact for the donation of supplies and the assignment of volunteers. For flooding situations, items most needed are: shovels, tarps, floor squeegies, cleaning supplies, bleach, gloves, face masks. They will also accept food and money. DO CALL FIRST. They’ll be able to tell you where items are being accepted.

9. Step 9

   AFTERMATH: This is when you can often help the very most. Once the emergency trailers are gone, people will be rebuilding. They will need cleaning supplies, and often this is when they could use the gently used clothes and furniture. They will also need lots of building material, sheet rock, towels, gloves (both work clothes and disposable), bleach, even hammers and nails. Bottled water and other drinks, new underwear, boots, shovels, paper towels, sponges, buckets are all needed.

   Check the local churches and local lodges. It seems that whenever there is a disaster, the first places that put something together are the local churches, fire departments, and/or lodges. If you call one or two, you will most likely find the information you are looking for.

10. Step 10
    Care for a Pet

    ANIMAL FOSTER CARE: Use the Yellow Pages and seek out local pet rescue centers. After a flood, they receive more animals than they can care for. They are thrilled to have people serve as foster families for deserted animals. After a period of time, if the animal is unclaimed, you may be able to adopt. Another good source to call is the Anti-Cruelty Society.

11. Step 11

    DONATE: Goods

    Many of us prefer to give gifts in kind, such as gloves, furniture, clothing, etc. Initially victims are displaced. They do not have a place to store your gifts. A month from the disaster, when people are rebuilding or relocated, your gift will be gladly accepted. It is some times tricky finding the best place to deliver these gifts though. The Salvation Army is one organization that will take your clothing and furniture.

12. Step 12

    Rebuilding. Again, if you have friends or relatives in the area, you should be able to find individuals that you can help. If not, you may be able to find information on specific people that can use your help from a local church or organization. But, if you volunteer through an agency, the victims will be more comfortable with your presence, and you will have help in your efforts, even with temporary housing for yourself. These are some of the organizations that work with help efforts after the fact that you could consider working with. Many are religious organizations, but they are truly focused on helping with the emergency rather than trying to do missionary work. They are well organized and compassionate.

    UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief) They prepare “Flood Kits” ahead of time and have available for relief efforts, as well as sending out teams. 202 548-4002 www.umcor.org
    CDR (Christian Disaster Response) 863 967-4357 www.cdresponse.org
    Direct assistance to victims using mobile and fixed-site kitchen/feeding facilities and in-kind disaster relief supplies as needed and requested including food, clothing, building materials and medical supplies.
    Habitat for Humanity www.habitat.org
    Volunteer some of your time in the clean up process.

    There are many other organizations as well. Do some research ahead of time, and find an organization whose mission suits your talents and desires.

Source: http://www.ehow.com/how_2353348_help-flood-victims.html