Follow me for 20 tips to master disaster relief
Before we get started with disaster relief 20 tips, let me introduce myself. My name is Bay Stevens and I am a specialist in disaster relief work. For the last fourteen years, I have taken trips from Arizona to New Jersey to help out. Wherever a weather disaster has struck during the year, I choose one place and land there shortly before Christmas.
From my familiar life, I drop into places filled with memorable people, alien landscapes and jobs I learn by doing them. For a week or ten days, I wake up in a strange bed and put on clothes that start to stiffen with yesterday’s dirt. After that, I hit the road to my first stop of the day. Soon, I’m grabbing that hard hat, strapping on boots and digging in. And eventually, long after dark I crawl back in bed and set the alarm. With this introduction, let’s proceed with 20 tips from a disaster relief specialist.
Tip #1 Disaster relief is not just for pros
In most cases, of the 20 tips to master disaster relief, tip #1 is the most encouraging. After any major weather incident, when you arrive you may find that FEMA, Red Cross, local and state governments and many charities are working in the area.
As an individual you have a unique advantage. That is to say, you are free to help out with several different groups, on different sites and in ways you do best. As an example, in the photo above you will see me (center) working in Panama City, FL with a group from Team Rubicon as we muck out and install a blue tarp to seal the roof after Hurricane Michael.
Disaster relief 20 tips, Tip #2 It’s not just hard hats and boots on the ground
First, if you think that with 20 tips you will master disaster relief with only physical work, you are mistaken. No, from my experience I find that relief is not just the right tools, clothing, and hard work. Moreover, quiet comfort, small chores, or a collective effort can turn someone’s life from hopeless to hope. For example, on a cold rainy day you hand a hot dog and a steaming cup coffee to the weathered hand of a man in the line. With just a gesture and a smile you are making that hope possible. Furthermore, each small job you do adds up incrementally to rebuild a house and make it back into a home. Finally, you can do many jobs that are not covered by national teams on site.
Over time, to master disaster relief, I find that helping to revive ravaged towns and landscapes, helping to rebuild houses and hope, are the high points of my year. By the same token, the memories are priceless. Personally, I’ve learned that the experience of disaster relief expands my soul.
Disaster relief 20 tips, Tip #3 Be patient, be persistent
In fact, cleaning up after a hurricane is a big job. As well, cleaning up can take years to accomplish. Likewise, to muck out , demolish and rebuild you will use many different skills. This is where patience and persistence pay off. In sum, the good news is that you already have most of all of the skills you will need. And as a bonus, the really good news is that you will have more fun as you get better with experience.
https://www.weather.gov/tae/HurricaneMichael2018