http://www.divinecaroline.com/33/99164-disaster-twelve-unexpected-things-victims
1. Babysitting Services
After a disaster comes the cleanup, something that Don Lauritzen, of the American Red Cross, reminds us can be hazardous, especially for children or pets. Debris may contain sharp objects or glass, and floodwater is often contaminated. Building structures may also be precarious. Offer to watch children or pets while victims investigate and clean.
2. Cameras
If those affected by a disaster hope to be covered by insurance, it will be essential for them to document the damage to their property. Chances are, their cameras were not the first things they grabbed when they evacuated or rescued belongings, so disposable cameras are a helpful donation.
3. Sunscreen and Insect Repellant
Along with protective clothing, like rubber gloves and rubber boots, volunteer crews need sunscreen and bug spray. Cleanup work is often outside, without the benefit of shade, and wet areas especially can become breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
4. Cleaning Supplies
None of those volunteers can clean without cleaning supplies. There are never enough garbage bags, and bleach is also essential; in a pinch, if there’s a water shortage, it can be used to treat drinking water (only household liquid bleach, not scented or color-safe).
5. Laundry Services
If clothes have been soiled or soaked by dirty water, they’ll need to be cleaned before they start to mildew. This will be difficult if water and electricity have been disrupted, as often happens after an emergency, or if someone’s washing machine was one of the casualties. Flood victims in Nashville didn’t realize the value of laundry services until the Tide company brought in mobile Laundromat trucks. They were a lifesaver (and a clothes saver).
6. New Underwear
Donated clothes come in by the garbage-bag full. What’s often not included in those bags, however, are clean underwear and socks, clothing that isn’t recycled but is often lost in disasters. A clean pair of underwear can change a person’s day.
7. Feminine Products
As you just witnessed in whatever disaster you experienced, Mother Nature is the boss around here, and her monthly gift for women doesn’t stop coming in the event of emergencies. Buying tampons or maxi-pads is the last thing a woman living in a shelter or salvaging her home needs to think about.
Comments
Yes, they make life easier.