Thread by @FreedomFriesInc

(1) A time of writing there are still 159 people unaccounted for at the #SurfsideBuildingCollapse in Florida.

We who were in Christchurch, NZ on 2/22/2011 have been through something similar. 115 people died in an earthquake-caused building collapse here.

We send our love.

https://twitter.com/MiamiHerald/status/1408546058943307786

(2) "Pancaked" was the term used to describe the collapse of the CTV (Canterbury TV) building in 2011.

We, too, kept vigil for days hoping some more people would make it out alive.

nzhistory.govt.nz/media/photo/ct…

(3) In our case, the building collapsed during a Tuesday lunch hour, when some of the building's office workers had just gone out for lunch.

The earthquake caused PTSD among thousands of people, incl. me. There were 300k people in the city, & countless others closely linked.

(4) I've worked in the field of emergency management planning, & I survived a deadly earthquake.

I cannot imagine the pain those affected by the #SurfsideCollapse are going through.

So here are some things that folk elsewhere in the US and world can can DO to help them.

(5) The loved ones waiting to learn the fate of those missing will have practical needs that are best met by the approved charities, using donated cash.

#CashIsKing in disaster response. Donated food, clothing etc just create more work for responders.

nvoad.org

(6) National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD) nvoad.org is the FEMA-approved org that can link you to the many & diverse charities & other groups that have experience responding to emergencies of all kinds in the US.

nvoad.org/wp-content/upl…

(7) Donating to (reputable) charities is one way to help. Another is through offering emotional support. You don't have to do this directly of course.

You can be like me & offer information to others.

Prayer can help, too. In several not-obvious-at-first ways. Hear me out...

(8) Responding to disasters by praying for people doesn't mean relying only on prayer. Of course.

It can help the onlooker deal with the pain & sadness but importantly, for people directly affected by disaster who believe in prayer, it is a huge comfort to know others care.

(9) Donating blood is important all the time but especially during a pandemic when donations have dropped off.

If you are medically fit to donate, please consider doing it regularly.

Search online for your local providers.

(10) Consider volunteering locally, & choose a reputable organization. Volunteering is just like paid employment - it carries risk to your health & safety, that you should prepare for.

Always put your own household & family first, though. Serving them is just as important.

(11) Make time to learn about risk assessment & mitigation in your own life. Survey trends show that only about 50% of Americans have a home emergency kit.

That's a depressingly low percentage.

(Other countries are similar, it's not just the US.)

ready.gov

(12) When you put on your own oxygen mask first, there is more chance of you being able to offer help to others in a healthy and sustainable way.

The more households that are ready for disasters, the less pressure there is on first responders. YOU are your own first responder.

(13) Mental health is a huge concern following disasters. The US federal government funds an excellent service for emotional first aid and support/referral to other services. Free services are available, so keep looking for them. Don't give up.

https://twitter.com/distressline/status/1408088805429633028

(14) @distressline provides free, 24/7 help throughout the US. Phone, text, multiple languages, accessibility for deaf and hearing impaired people, and so on. It's more than just a phone helpline.

It's OK to ask for help. It's more than OK.

(15) Through @distressline @fema @NationalVOAD etc you can find tips and resources for helping children cope with disasters.

Also, keep in mind adults with diminished capacity. You can adapt the tips for them.

And people on the autism spectrum are often hit hard by stress.

(16) There's two nvoad-approved orgs in particular who are always first on scene with support, supplies, food, and drinks:

@SalvationArmyUS and @RedCross

I always get replies from some who criticize them but I've learned to ignore it.

The good they do far outweighs the bad.

(17) If you want to donate but don't have time to weigh a bunch of options, the Salvation Army & Red Cross provide more bang for your buck than anyone.

DO NOT donate to Go Fund Me type campaigns. Too many scams.

Local police, fire depts etc usually have a charity attached.

(18) Aside from scammers on Go Fund Me, another issue is that quite often the person has not explored or is unaware of their entitlements & other local sources of support. So, your charity dollar can be wasted, which is like not donating at all. Official orgs are usually fairer.

(19) In due course there will be investigations into why this building collapsed I have some ideas based, ironically, on why the similar-aged CTV building in NZ collapsed ten years ago. I will keep them to myself for now.

The immediate needs of those affected are the priority.

(21) This point leads on to the #NoPoliticsOnTheBoat doctrine, which was eloquently described during Hurricane Harvey in 2017.

People who instantly make tragedies political really suck.

(22) If I have more to say re #Surfside I'll post a link below. If you'd like me to share info about additional ways to help, you can reply here or DM me.

My reach these days is not what it used to be. No matter. Thankfully FL doesn't have to deal with a hurricane this week.