HODR dispatched an assessment team to the Philippines on Oct 3, 2009 in the wake of record flooding from tropical storm Ketsana/Ondoy. Here, the team reports on their findings during their first three days on the ground.
You can continue to follow the assessment team’s progress via Twitter and flickr.
HODR is accepting donations for our South Pacific Disaster Recovery Fund.
MEDIA RELEASE:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information please contact:
Beca Howard, Communications Manager
781.570.9412Beca@HODR.org
CARLISLE, MA, 10/12/09 — Within the span of five days the South Pacific was been devastated by a string of natural disasters. Hands On Disaster Response (HODR) is on the ground in Indonesia and the Samoan Islands, and has launched a fundraising appeal to support the recovery efforts. HODR, a recently accepted National VOAD Member, is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that harnesses the power of volunteers to bring direct assistance to survivors of natural disasters both in the US and around the world.
The organization’s South Pacific Disaster Recovery Fund aims to raise $250,000 toward the recovery efforts following the recent series of disasters.
“There’s a tremendous amount of suffering in the South Pacific right now after the recent string of disasters. Fortunately, we have experience in two of the affected areas having run successful campaigns to address the needs in 2006 following a super-typhoon in the Philippines and an earthquake in Indonesia,” says Marc Young, International Operations Director for HODR.
HODR projects organize volunteer work to meet the unique needs of the community, and can include everything from debris removal to rebuilding homes and schools. On the organization’s 2006 deployment to the Philippines volunteers rebuilt and renovated elementary school and daycare facilities, built fishing boats to restore the livelihood of fishing villages, and dug out nearly 150 homes buried by the mudflows. HODR’s 2006 Indonesian earthquake response mainly focused on rubble removal and salvaging materials, which residents quickly used to rebuild.
South Pacific Tsunami
On September 29 a powerful 8.0 earthquake created a series of tsunami waves that struck American Samoa, Western Samoa, and a small northern island in Tonga. Some of the waves are estimated to have been as high as 6 meters (more than 19 feet) high, and initial estimates show that as many as 15,000 people have been affected.
Sumatra Earthquake
On September 30 a devastating 7.6 earthquake struck the Indonesian island of Sumatra and within 24 hours a second earthquake of magnitude 7.0 hit, causing further damage on the stricken island.
HODR assessment teams in both the Samoan Islands and Indonesia are meeting with local officials, visiting affected areas and evaluating the recovery needs in order to determine further involvement and the potential for volunteer projects.
For more information and updates visit www.HODR.org and follow the HODR field teams on Twitter:
Twitter@HODRopsINTwitter@HODRopsUSA
To support HODR’s South Pacific Disaster Recovery Fund please visit www.HODR.org/SouthPacific.
After an extensive assessment of flood affected areas in Georgia we have found that the clean up/muck/gut phase is moving along rapidly and in most areas will be completed in the coming days.
Affected homeowners wasted no time and began piling damaged household items and building materials on the curb and into dumpsters provided by the counties. Local and National voluntary organizations have also pitched in, with groups like the Latter Days Saints organizing upwards of 930 volunteers during the first weekend post flood.
The Red Cross estimates that just over 2,500 homes suffered damage statewide across some 20 counties. The hardest hit was Cobb County with approximately 1,000 homes having suffered damage.
Our evaluation found that the current needs of those affected are being met and a HODR project is not needed at this time. We will continue to monitor the long-term recovery and keep a watchful eye for any needs that may surface in the coming weeks and months.
We would like to thank our friends at Habitat For Humanity and the Georgia State Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (GA VOAD) for their assistance and information sharing.
The Greene family of Roswell, GA also deserves a BIG HODR thank you for their Southern hospitality and tremendous support of our efforts in Georgia.
Please stay tuned to www.HODR.org and twitter.com/HODRopsUSA for the latest on what we’re up to.
As the flood waters begin to recede in Northern Georgia, Hands On Disaster Response is sending an Advance Team to the affected area to gather information and speak with local officials and responding agencies to determine how to best fill the needs of the affected communities.
Over the course of the past weekend heavy rains pounded the usually dry Northern portion of the Georgia, dumping up to 21” of rain in some areas. The continued rains caused Governor Sonny Perdue to declare states of emergency in 17 counties. Georgia Emergency Management estimates that 2,000-3,000 homes have been affected at an estimated damage of $250 Million. As of Thursday September, 24, FEMA declared Individual Assistance in four of the affected Metro Counties and local officials are working to get additional federal assistance declared in the coming days.
HODR’s Advance Teamwill be working with local partners to ascertain how to best engage in local recovery efforts. For the most up to date information and photos from the team, follow us on Twitter at HODRopsUSA. If you have any connections in the Atlanta area that may be of use to our team, please email us at info@HODR.org.
-The HODR Team
Mena, Arkansas was struck by an EF3 tornado at 8:10 PM on 4/9/09. Area reports at this time estimate that there are about 100 homes destroyed and 600 damaged.
HODR is sending an Assessment Team to the area to evaluate the needs and potential for a HODR recovery project.
If you’re interested in volunteering with us in Arkansas, if a response project develops from the assessment, please email Tom at info@HODR.org so we can gauge potential volunteer interest.
Follow the US Team at twitter.com/HODRopsUSA and check www.HODR.org for updates as information becomes available.