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January 28, 2008 -- Tom Price of Burners Without Borders says the group knows a thing or two about helping
people recover from a flood, thanks to its experience with Hurricane Katrina. Some tips:
• Personal items like photos and papers can be saved, as long as they are separated out while still damp so
they do not dry together and tear when taken apart later.
• Flat-edged shovels are best for removing muck and debris.
• Hand sanitizer is a must for any volunteers; standing water easily becomes contaminated.
• Most household items are salvageable--even some electronics--if allowed to dry completely. We still have
and use some stereo/communications equipment given to us that homeowners thought was ruined but worked fine
when allowed to dry out.
• People don't like asking for help, it can make them feel helpless or needy. Feel free to offer a couple
times, even to help with some tiny little thing, and understand some people will want/need to go through
it by themselves.
• When items are clean and dry, they should be stored in plastic bins. The bins easy to stack and don't
require being moved again if they are outside and it starts to rain/snow again.
• Renters' needs are sometimes overlooked by aid agencies.
• When helping people in their homes, make sure to ask first if there are things to keep an eye out for,
or if there are areas of the home volunteers should not enter--boundaries are torn up by floods, and it
is vital that residents be consulted at every step of the way about what ia happening; they have already
experienced a great loss, giving them a say in what happens next is a vital part of helping them regain a
sense of control over their lives.
• Let people tell their stories--with so many people impacted in such a small area, someone's personal
experience might not seem like much, especially when others nearby have lost as much or more. However,
their experience matters enormously to them, and they need a chance to talk about how they feel so they
can start to process it; we encountered people even six months after Katrina who had not had a chance to
talk about their experiences, who when they opened up seemed like it had just happened the day before.
That said, it is vital not to push people into sharing--everyone responds differently, let them guide you
as to how to talk to them about it.
• Although distributing cash is not a good idea, buying gift cards for home improvement or electronics
stores is a great way to give aid that allows victims to decide what best meets their needs.
*After an initial flurry, aid often drops off, even though there is still need. Governments are not
equipped to manage the variety of offers of help that comes in. So, the best way people can help is to
go to the area and ask what is needed.
Want to lend a hand in Fernley? Contact Tom Price at price_tom@hotmail.com
Local residents have established a website at www.hellofernley.com
for people offering and needing assistance.
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