Darius and I arrived a few days ago and began viewing the areas affected by wildfire in Southern California. We set out to assess the damage and to review the overall need for volunteer assistance in order to make a decision about whether or not we would deploy to the area. We spent 3 days in Rancho Bernardo and Ramona, two of the heavily damaged areas speaking with residents, city officials and first responders about the situation in the area.
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Author Archive
Southern California Wildfire Assessment
Monday, October 29th, 2007PERU: Director’s Project Update
Thursday, September 27th, 2007
It is almost time to harvest the fruit and it appears the yield for the farmers will be meager. The irrigation canals, which siphon water off the Cañete River to feed the fields, were broken by the recent earthquake. The repairs have been delayed because of the obvious need to focus on housing.
The farmers need water to fatten the crop and yesterday, Project Coordinator Stefanie Chang and 9 other determined Hands On Disaster Response volunteers arrived in Ramadilla, Peru to help. The team will stay in this remote agricultural area for approximately 1 week working on the first phase of rebuilding 500 meters of irrigation canal.
PERU: Project Pisco Update
Tuesday, September 25th, 2007
Work in Pisco is going very well and we have a solid number of volunteers who have showed up to lend a helping hand. Shortly after arriving in Pisco, Marc (HODR Operations Director) had close to 40 volunteers in house and he is on the hunt to find some more living space to accommodate a larger number of volunteers.
We are still welcoming volunteers for this project and as always… if you can make your way to us… we’ll give you shelter, food, tools and meaningful work to do in a community that really needs your help. Please email info@hodr.org to find out more about volunteering with us in Peru.
Cheers,
-Darius
Operations Director, HODR
PERU: Project Pisco Video Update
Thursday, September 13th, 2007Most of the HODR Operations team is down in Peru right now along with over 40 HODR volunteers and from the video Bill just sent along… it looks like the kind of good hard work we love doing in a very supportive community.
I’ll also pass along a note from Suzi Lee one of our hardcore and very wonderful volunteers:
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HODR Video Update
Monday, August 20th, 2007Assessment Team Heading to Peru
Saturday, August 18th, 2007HODR Operations Director, Marc Young will be making a trip to Peru early next week to see if and how HODR can help in the disaster recovery efforts. Long-term volunteer Stefanie Chang who assisted Marc in setting up the Philippines project will be accompanying him and supporting our assessment efforts.
Last Wednesday an 8.0 earthquake struck the coast of Peru killing more than 500 people and causing significant damage. Ica, where most of the deaths occurred is 165 miles south of the capital, Lima.
We expect to have an update next week on a possible Peru deployment, and we are also keeping our eyes on Hurricane Dean.
Bill Driscoll Jr. Joins HODR as Operations Director
Friday, June 15th, 2007CARLISLE, Mass., June 12 — Hands On Disaster Response (HODR) is proud to welcome aboard Bill Driscoll Jr. to its Operations Staff, to focus on domestic responses. As founder of Persevere Disaster Relief, Inc., Driscoll brings with him two years of experience in disaster relief management.
Driscoll first partnered with HODR during the organization’s Hurricane Katrina response in Biloxi, Mississippi. As a full-time volunteer, Driscoll was a critical member of the operation, leading groups of volunteers and providing media support. In January 2006, First Lady Laura Bush presented Driscoll with the Presidential Call to Service Award for his work with HODR.
UPDATE: Kansas Tornado Relief
Friday, May 11th, 2007Please read the full Greensburg Tornado Project Summary by clicking here.
David: When Disaster meets Poverty…
Monday, February 5th, 2007…help is needed, and appreciated. Typhoon Reming was definitely a major disaster in the Philippines, and the small towns where the average daily wage hovers around $3 and most people live in tiny huts with tin or reed roofs are definitely poor. I’ve spent the first two weeks of January at the Hands On project in the barangay (village) of San Isidro, in the municipality of Santo Domingo, a town near the city of Legazpi, a few hours from Manila.
This is a poor rural area, with surrounding rice fields and fishing as the major food sources. Their homes and livelihood were both affected by a category 5 (highest level) typhoon that struck on November 30th, and triggered massive flows of accumulated sodden ash, called lahar, off the slopes of Mt. Mayon, an active volcano that is 6 miles away from our project site. The lahar flow redirected rivers, eliminated rice fields, mowed down homes, destroyed most trees (including the materials normally used for roofs and walls). Fishing fleets were destroyed and power will be out for months.
Darius : My Trip to the Philippines
Sunday, January 14th, 2007I am recently back in the US… and very cold! There is about a 70 degree temperature difference between Santo Domingo and here Portland, OR.
My time with Marc and the rest of the HODR volunteers was a great experience and since Marc had things well under control I got to take some time to get dirty and do some good ol’ work.
This project was a hard one for me, and not because I was there for Christmas and New Year, away from my family. But because of how poor the people are in the Bicol Region where we are set-up. While we are only a short term disaster relief organization, I feel good knowing that we will be making a lasting impact in a community and leaving behind means to better themselves for years to come.
Aside from my favourite thing in the Philippines (That being the very delicious Pan De Agua bread, baked daily by our neighbors.) I loved the locals. The kids there have amazingly big hearts and bright smiles. If you like kids, then this project would be the one for you. They are always around, and they are always being helpful. If you’re trying to carry it, tear it down, pick it up, shovel it, cut it, Etc… there is always a young boy or girl who is there to help you.