Any recommendations on how to donate labor to disaster recovery?
November 18, 2013 7:35 AM Subscribe
Lacking money but possessing skills, I'd really like to pitch in, and Illinois isn't too far away. How can I volunteer labor and time?
I used to work for Habitat for Humanity, but I won't give them my money OR my sweat now, so that's pretty much out.
I don't have any money to give, but I do have tools and expertise and a job that I can walk away from for a week without any problem. I can operate heavy machinery (forklift and AWP) and drive anything without air brakes, manual/automatic/up to 32,000 gross. I do have to be careful of my back, but I'm pretty good about that. I was formerly an EMT as well and have worked in the past as a SAR K-9 Handler, so I am familiar with all those practices.
Pretty much just need a secure place to store whatever I bring, a place to lay my head, and a food line, and I'm good to go.
I used to work for Habitat for Humanity, but I won't give them my money OR my sweat now, so that's pretty much out.
I don't have any money to give, but I do have tools and expertise and a job that I can walk away from for a week without any problem. I can operate heavy machinery (forklift and AWP) and drive anything without air brakes, manual/automatic/up to 32,000 gross. I do have to be careful of my back, but I'm pretty good about that. I was formerly an EMT as well and have worked in the past as a SAR K-9 Handler, so I am familiar with all those practices.
Pretty much just need a secure place to store whatever I bring, a place to lay my head, and a food line, and I'm good to go.
Best answer: I do work from time to time for All Hands Volunteers and they've been pretty great. Their jobs are more in the realm of manual labor, reconstruction and debris clearing -- long term reconstruction rather than immediate disaster response -- so your deep technical skills probably wouldn't see too much use on their domestic projects, but their ongoing projects in the Philippines might be different; especially with their current plans to startup a new project in Leyte.
As far as I know, though, they aren't planning on deploying to Illinois. Their current domestic projects are focused on New York and continuing Sandy recovery as well as dealing with earlier flooding in Colorado.
posted by bl1nk at 8:02 AM on November 18, 2013
As far as I know, though, they aren't planning on deploying to Illinois. Their current domestic projects are focused on New York and continuing Sandy recovery as well as dealing with earlier flooding in Colorado.
posted by bl1nk at 8:02 AM on November 18, 2013
Best answer: Call the Red Cross and see if they can use you. The issue is that in disaster areas, that sometimes they want pros that they can organize, etc. While your intentions are good, having to look after, feed and house you might prove more trouble than you're worth.
There's a lot of weirdness to volunteering in a disaster area, so don't be disheartened if right now this second isn't a good time. Your skills may be needed later.
But you never know, call the Red Cross and see.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 8:03 AM on November 18, 2013
There's a lot of weirdness to volunteering in a disaster area, so don't be disheartened if right now this second isn't a good time. Your skills may be needed later.
But you never know, call the Red Cross and see.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 8:03 AM on November 18, 2013
Response by poster: SuperSquirrel--it looks like that page is coordinating relief efforts, thanks though, I'll stay on it.
bl1nk, that's AWESOME. I think that the logistics of getting me to some one of those places, and only for a week or two, is probably sort of a waste. If it wasn't for the 2 year old and the mortgage, I'd just take a leave of absence. :)
Ruthless--oh yes, I know. I didn't mean necessarily leaving this week, just in the nearish future for this or any disaster that may pop up.
posted by TomMelee at 8:07 AM on November 18, 2013
bl1nk, that's AWESOME. I think that the logistics of getting me to some one of those places, and only for a week or two, is probably sort of a waste. If it wasn't for the 2 year old and the mortgage, I'd just take a leave of absence. :)
Ruthless--oh yes, I know. I didn't mean necessarily leaving this week, just in the nearish future for this or any disaster that may pop up.
posted by TomMelee at 8:07 AM on November 18, 2013
Best answer: I didn't mean necessarily leaving this week, just in the nearish future for this or any disaster that may pop up.
Absoloutely contact the Red Cross and ask to be trained to be on a response team. I have a friend who did this (and who has the flexiblity to be able to leave home for weeks at a time) and he's been sent to a number of "interesting" places in times of crisis over the past two or three years.
posted by anastasiav at 8:13 AM on November 18, 2013
Absoloutely contact the Red Cross and ask to be trained to be on a response team. I have a friend who did this (and who has the flexiblity to be able to leave home for weeks at a time) and he's been sent to a number of "interesting" places in times of crisis over the past two or three years.
posted by anastasiav at 8:13 AM on November 18, 2013
Best answer: dude, if you can just take a week off to drive to NY or CO; I'm sure All Hands would be happy to have you around. I do occasional weekend trips to help with construction and demo work (drive down Friday, work all day Saturday and half day on Sunday) and it's been fine. International projects would definitely be more in the vein of taking two weeks or more.
if your interest is more in being able to respond to local emergencies in the future, you could also consider registering with your local CERT.
posted by bl1nk at 8:41 AM on November 18, 2013
if your interest is more in being able to respond to local emergencies in the future, you could also consider registering with your local CERT.
posted by bl1nk at 8:41 AM on November 18, 2013
Best answer: You may be able to join Team Rubicon. They're primarily a veterans' organization, focusing on early-stage disaster response in which a tactical mindset can be helpful. But it looks like they do accept "disaster professionals" like EMTs as well. Might be a good fit.
posted by asheblogs at 8:53 AM on November 18, 2013
posted by asheblogs at 8:53 AM on November 18, 2013
Best answer: Central Illinois Emergency Information says: "People calling to volunteer in Washington should call the non-emergency number at 309-573-7000. Please leave a voicemail with your name and phone number. When volunteers are needed you will receive a call."
(That's the Washington police department, btw.)
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 9:35 AM on November 18, 2013
(That's the Washington police department, btw.)
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 9:35 AM on November 18, 2013
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posted by SuperSquirrel at 7:58 AM on November 18, 2013