Our last newsletter of 2004 encouraged readers to "Make Room for One More". If you missed it, we hope you will read it here. With the recent tsunami disaster, we want to take this issue to offer resources to help you help the victims. We will return to our usual Continuity e-GUIDE format next Wednesday. Our industry matures through an ever-growing reservoir of "lessons learned". Many of you are on the frontlines of the disaster in Asia. Will you send us information we may share? Your contribution may be from 1st hand experience, or perhaps articles and resources you have found. Click HERE>>
Spotlight on Relief Organizations In light of the recent disaster in Asia, this week's Continuity e-Guide is devoted to the many outstanding relief organizations that are providing aid to areas affected by the devastating tsunamis. Here, we spotlight just a few of the organizations that are working hard to bring relief to the area. In addition to the organizations we've highlighted, we have also provided a comprehensive list of many more relief organizations that need our help. We urge you to consider making a commitment to the organization of your choice. Air Serv International http://www.airserv.org Air Serv International, a 20-year old organization headquartered in Virginia, is sending planes and helicopters to the tsunami-ravaged areas of Sri Lanka and Indonesia to help deliver assessment teams, project managers and other relief personnel to the areas. Many other relief organizations rely on this non-profit, non-government agency to get cargo and humanitarian aid to the crisis. The organization's mission is to provide safe, reliable, and cost effective air transport to humanitarian agencies involved in the relief efforts in Southeast Asia. As a non-profit organization, Air Serv is asking the public for donations to help fund its tsunami relief projects. You can contribute online at www.airserv.org, or by sending a contribution to Air Serv International, 6583 Merchant Place, Suite 100, Warrenton, VA, 20187. For more information, call 540-428-2323. CARE http://www.care.org CARE is one of the world's largest private humanitarian organizations dedicated to helping the world's poorest communities solve their most threatening problems. In response to the tragedy in Southeast Asia, CARE is mounting a comprehensive, multi-country emergency response that includes food, water purification tablets, shelter materials and basic medical supplies in India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Thailand. CARE's US arm is asking the American Public to help them raise $10 million to help with the disaster. While the organization appreciates those who want to help by volunteering their time or donating clothing and food, it says cash donations will allow it to target its relief efforts in the areas where the most help is needed. You can donate in one of three ways: 1. Donate online here: https://donate.care.org/05/20180000/?source=170570040000 2. Call 1-800-521-CARE and tell the operator you'd like to direct your gift to "Asia Quake Relief." 3. Send a check with "Asia Quake Relief" on the memo line to: CARE 151 Ellis St. NE Atlanta, GA 30303-2440 Direct Relief International http://www.directrelief.org Founded in 1948, Santa Barbara-based Direct Relief International is a non-profit, non-political, and non-sectarian organization that focuses on health issues, providing essential material resources to locally run health programs in poor areas around the world and during times of disaster. Direct Relief has sent staff, volunteers and emergency shipments to Sri Lanka, India and Indonesia, as well as spent more than $40,000 to purchase 335,000 tabs of 500 mg amoxicillin for adults, 6,000 bottles of amoxicillin suspension for children, 200,000 doses of oral rehydration solution, and 10,000 units of IV solution to help prevent the spread of disease in the area. The organization has also ordered 265,000 100 mg capsules of doxicyclin to treat cholera, a disease for which the risk exists in the affected areas. Direct Relief is currently accepting monetary donations to help with the relief efforts, and the organization says it will spend these donations to specifically help in areas hit by the tsunami, and will not use any of the funds for the organization itself. To donate online, go to https://www.directrelief.org/sections/support_us/d_donate_now.html. To donate by phone with a credit card, call 805-964-4767. To donate by mail, send a check or money order to: Direct Relief International, 27 S. La Patera Lane, Santa Barbara, CA 93117. Doctors Without Borders http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org Founded in 1971 by a group of French doctors, Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) delivers emergency aid to victims of armed conflict, epidemics, and natural and man-made disasters, and to others who lack health care due to social or geographical isolation. MSF has emergency teams on the ground in South Asia to provide assistance to people affected by the earthquake and the resulting tsunamis, and is carrying out multiple needs assessments in several countries in the region. To date, MSF has sent over 40 aid workers and 110 tons of relief materials to the region. Additional aid workers and relief cargos are en route, and the organization says it will deploy more as needed. The organization says it has received an extraordinary outpouring of support for the people of South Asia and is extremely grateful for that support. At this time, MSF estimates that it has received sufficient funds for the currently foreseen emergency response in this region. The organization is currently requesting that you contribute to its general Emergency Relief Fund, which is enabling the quick response to the current disaster in South Asia as well as humanitarian needs in war-torn Darfur, Sudan, and elsewhere in the over 70 countries where MSF is working around the world. You can make a donation online at http://www.doctorswithoutborders-usa.org/donate/, or by calling 1-888-392-0392. Habitat for Humanity International http://www.habitat.org One of the world's largest builders of decent, safe and affordable housing, Habitat for Humanity works to develop long-term shelter solutions for disaster-affected families, and helps communities protect themselves against future threats in disaster-prone areas. The organization estimates that as many as five million people are displaced and in need of basic services as a result of the tsunami-earthquake catastrophe in Southeast Asia. In Sri Lanka alone, one in 12 people are now homeless. Habitat for Humanity is working with partners to help families whose homes have been wiped out or severely damaged by the floods to construct semi-permanent shelters and repair damaged homes. Habitat says its first priority is to assist the existing Habitat homeowners and the Save and Build members in the area, then it will turn its attention to the millions more who are now in need of a safe, decent and affordable place to live. Habitat is issuing an emergency appeal to raise funds to help facilitate recovery and rebuilding in Asia. You can donate online with a credit card at: https://www.habitat.org/giving/donate.aspx?link=33. Mercy Corps http://www.mercycorps.org Since 1979, Mercy Corps has provided over $830 million in assistance to people in 80 nations. Mercy Corps has deployed staff and resources in response to the Southeast Asia earthquake and tsunami, and is asking for help to ensure they get critical aid and assistance to the children and families affected by the disaster. The organization's efforts are currently centered around three countries: India, Indonesia and Sri Lanka. It is working to distribute food, household supplies, hygienic items and water storage facilities to the area. It also has its emergency team on the ground, assessing damage and beginning a lifesaving response. Mercy Corps is grateful to those who want to volunteer their time to help, but the organization is unable to take volunteers at this time. It is asking for monetary donations to help with the relief efforts. To donate online, go to https://ssl.charityweb.net/mercycorps/giftbasket/donation.htm ?pDonorIntent=SoutheastAsiaEarthquake&Custom15=wm. Oxfam International http://www.oxfam.org Oxfam International is a confederation of 12 organizations working together with over 3000 partners in more than 100 countries to find lasting solutions to poverty, suffering and injustice. The organization is providing Southeast Asia with staff, food, temporary latrines, roofing sheets, plastic sheeting for shelter, mats, bed sheets, sanitary towels, hygiene kits and water tanks. Oxfam says it has recorded an overwhelmingly generous response across the globe for the millions affected by the tsunami. As of last Friday, the organization had raised a record $16 million, with the total continuing to climb every minute. The organization is urging donor governments to give long-term aid to the millions who will be faced with the mammoth task of rebuilding their homes, businesses and communities. You can donate to your local Oxfam office online at http://www.oxfam.org/eng/programs_emer_asia.htm. UNICEF http://www.unicef.org UNICEF, the United Nations Children's Fund, has more than 7,000 people working in 157 countries around the world to promote the health and well-being of children. UNICEF estimates that one-third of all deaths and injuries from the disaster in Southeast Asia will be sustained by children, and many more will be left orphaned by the disaster. The organization is rushing relief assistance to the countries hardest hit, working to meet the urgent needs of hundreds of thousands of people who survived the tsunamis but now need shelter, water, medical supplies and other urgent assistance. UNICEF is concerned about providing safe water, which is urgent to prevent the spread of disease. It is also working with governments and other relief organizations to ensure a system for identifying separated children and relocating their families and communities. UNICEF is asking for monetary donations to help in the relief efforts in Southeast Asia. It says $5 can provide an emergency health kit for one person for three months, with medical supplies and drugs to cover basic health needs, $87 can provide a basic family water kit for ten households, with detergent, soap, wash basin, towels, bucket and water purification tablets and $188 can provide one "School-in-a-Box" kit containing basic education supplies for 80 children during times of crisis. You can donate online at http://www.unicef.org/supportasia.php. Water Missions International http://www.watermissions.org Founded in 1998, Water Missions International (WMI) is a non-profit, Christian engineering organization serving the water and sanitation needs of developing countries and disaster areas. WMI uses low maintenance, appropriate water technologies for drinking water treatment and distribution, wastewater management and storm water control. WMI is planning to ship 34 Living Water™ Treatment Systems (LWTS™) to Southeast Asia. These 34 systems can purify water for 136,000 people, but the organization says it has three major needs that it must fill before it can get the systems to the people who need them. Those needs include: 1. Transportation: The organization plans to apply for space-available transportation on military cargo planes, however, it will take weeks for that application to be approved. In the mean time, the organization would welcome donated space aboard planes or ships for the LWTS™. Each system weighs 1,600 pounds and has dimensions of 96"W x 40"D x 92"H. Ten units fit into a 40-foot container. 2. In-Country Partners: In order to ensure proper delivery and setup of the LWTS™, WMI must partner with relief organizations that maintain a presence in the affected countries. It is currently working on establishing the needed connections. The organization is also looking for volunteers who can travel at their own cost to supervise the placement of the systems 3. Funding: WMI says it had originally earmarked the 34 systems for other projects. If they are sent to Southeast Asia, they will need to be replaced, at a cost of $10,000 each. To make a donation, go to http://www.watermissions.org or mail a check to: Water Missions International, P.O. Box 31258, Charleston, SC, 29417. If you can help with one of WMI's goals, please contact them immediately at 843-769-7395, or e-mail lrowland@watermissions.org. World Vision http://www.worldvision.org World Vision is a Christian relief and development organization dedicated to helping children and their communities worldwide reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty. World Vision teams are currently providing immediate relief in many of the worst affected areas of Asia, distributing survival packs of food, bottled water, medicine, sleeping mats, clothing, and household items to tens of thousands of people in the wake of massive tsunamis. The organization is asking for monetary gifts to rush food and Family Survival Kits to Asian countries affected by the earthquake and tsunami, and provide other relief as needed. Each kit provides things like blankets, tarps for temporary shelter, water purification tablets and cooking supplies. World Vision will also provide other critically needed relief response, such as food or medicine, where needs arise. RELIEF ORGANIZATIONS Action Against Hunger: http://www.aah-usa.org ADRA International: http://www.adra.org Air Serv International: http://www.airserv.org American Friends Service Committee: http://www.afsc.org American Jewish World Service: http://www.ajws.org American Red Cross: http://www.redcross.org AmeriCares: http://www.americares.org Ananda Marga Universal Relief Team (AMURT): http://www.amurt.net ARMDI, Israeli Red Cross Tsunami Emergency Fund: http://www.armdi.org Association for India's Development: http://www.aidindia.org Baptist World Aid: http://www.bwanet.org/bwaid Brother's Brother Foundation: http://www.brothersbrother.org CARE: http://www.care.org Catholic Medical Mission Board: http://www.cmmb.org Catholic Relief Services: http://www.catholicrelief.org Christian Children's Fund: http://www.christianchildrensfund.org Christian Reformed World Relief Committee: http://www.crwrc.org Church World Service: http://www.churchworldservice.org Compassion International: http://www.compassion.com/Default Concern Worldwide: http://www.concernusa.org Direct Relief International: http://www.directrelief.org Doctors Without Borders: http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org Episcopal Relief and Development: http://www.er-d.org Feed the Children: http://www.feedthechildren.org/site/PageServer?pagename=dotorg_homepage Food for the Hungry, Inc.: http://www.fh.org Habitat for Humanity International: http://www.habitat.org Heart to Heart International: http://www.hearttoheart.org International Aid: http://www.internationalaid.org International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies: http://www.ifrc.org International Medical Corps: http://www.imcworldwide.org International Orthodox Christian Charities: http://www.iocc.org International Relief Teams: http://www.IRTeams.org International Rescue Committee: http://www.theIRC.org Islamic Relief Worldwide: http://www.islamic-relief.com Latter-Day Saint Charities: http://www.lds.org/ldsfoundation Lutheran World Relief: http://www.lwr.org MAP International: http://www.map.org Mercy Corps: http://www.mercycorps.org Network for Good: http://www.networkforgood.org Northwest Medical Teams: http://www.nwmedicalteams.org Operation Blessing International: http://www.ob.org Operation USA: http://www.opusa.org Oxfam America: http://www.oxfamamerica.org Oxfam International: http://www.oxfam.org Plan USA: http://www.planusa.org Project Concern International: http://www.projectconcern.org Project HOPE: http://www.projecthope.org Relief International: http://www.ri.org Salvation Army: http://www.salvationarmy.org Save the Children USA: http://www.savethechildren.org Stop Hunger Now: http://www.stophungernow.org U.N. World Food Programme: http://www.wfp.org UMCOR: http://www.umcor.org UNICEF: http://www.unicef.org United Jewish Appeal Federation of NY: http://www.ujafedny.org/site/PageServer United Way International: http://www.national.unitedway.org/tsunamiresponse/ USAID: http://www.usaid.gov Water Missions International: http://www.watermissions.org World Concern: http://www.worldconcern.org World Emergency Relief: http://www.worldemergencyrelief.org World Hope International: http://www.worldhope.org World Relief: http://www.worldrelief.org World Vision: http://www.worldvision.org
a Weekly Publication of Disaster Resource GUIDE. Based on the philosophy of "working together", the weekly Continuity e-GUIDE provides a concise seven-day snapshot of the business continuity and emergency management industry from around the world right down to the local level.     Article idea? Contact the Editor, Alison Dunn at alison.dunn@disaster-resource.com.     Want to sponsor a weekly update? Contact Tommy Rainey at tommyr@disaster-resource.com. The 2004/2005 DISASTER RESOURCE GUIDE (9th annual Edition) has been published and is now available. Visit the Online GUIDE to sign up for a free copy. You can sign up today. Click HERE>>
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