When the nation is struggling economically, it is often those at the fringe of poverty or crisis that are the worst hit. Add a natural disaster or two to the mix, and you have a prescription for hard times at its worst. The American Red Cross, the Salvation Army and other relief agencies are having a difficult time raising funds to support their operations after Hurricane’s Ike and Gustav decimated the gulf coast.
In large part it’s just that the media interest has been focused on other things the past couple of months. Instead of lingering news stories about the effects of the hurricanes, we’re now embroiled in the Presidential election and the financial crisis at the center of national interest.
But the hurricanes along the Louisiana and Texas gulf coast did an incredible amount of damage, wiping thousands of homes and businesses off the map and all but destroying the gulf seafood industry for years to come. Did you know that the combined costs of Hurricane’s Ike and Gustav are forecast as second only to Hurricane Katrina? The ongoing credit crisis is not going to make it easy for these states to rebuild their infrastructure either. Â
But where’s the real national interest? Where are the Hollywood stars traipsing through the streets? Where are the MTV benefit shows and internet campaigns raising money for all of those displaced by this disaster? The government’s response was much improved over Katrina, so we’re not reading story after story about the “failures of the system.”
But the real failures may be that the American public is not helping those in need as we’ve done in the past. The national interest is just not there right now. Whether it’s because of the lack of media interest, or that it wasn’t jazzy New Orleans that was hit we don’t really know. But it looks like disaster fatigue has set in, not enough people are donating money and a lot of folks are really in need of help.Â
For many of us living far from the region, the most efficient way we can help is by donating money to the organizations that put people and resources on the scene of the crisis. With that in mind, we’ve posted a few links to leading disaster relief organizations below.
All of these organizations provide an essential role in leading relief efforts, and getting food, water and coordinated shelter and clothing for people who need it. Especially for the children. Please help in whatever way you can, or through your local relief organization. Thank you!
American Red Cross Donation page
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Mennonite Disaster Relief donation page
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