Newswise — BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Hurricane Harvey, considered the biggest rainfall in the recorded history of the continental United States, has left much of Houston and southeastern Texas under water, driven thousands of people to shelters and killed dozens. Indiana University experts are available to discuss issues related to the disaster, the response and charitable giving.
Give money to established, reputable organizations
Americans are remarkably generous and have a strong desire to help others in need, but it’s important to give in ways that will be helpful, say Patrick M. Rooney, executive associate dean and professor in the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy in Indianapolis, and Beth Gazley, professor in the School of Public and Environmental Affairs at IU Bloomington.
"The best way is to give money to long-standing relief organizations," Rooney said. " Reputable, established aid groups are best able to assess and meet needs and have established teams, infrastructures and experience for doing so."
Gazley's advice: "Right now, give cash, not clothes." Transporting in-kind donations depends on infrastructure that may be limited after the disaster. In-kind giving can be helpful later.
She suggests giving to Houston-area organizations or to national organizations that have chapters in the region. "Gulf Coast organizations have collaborative networks in place, know the local officials and other key decision-makers, and are best positioned to make the most efficient use of a gift," she said. If you want to volunteer, great -- but find a way to do it from home, she said. Don't rush to a disaster area where you're likely to get in the way.
"And beware of potential fraud," Rooney added. "Sadly, scams often arise around disasters, including sham websites and emails that appear to be from legitimate organizations but are not."
Gazley can be reached at 812-855-1464 or [email protected]. To speak with Rooney, contact Adriene Kalugyer at 317-278-8972 or [email protected].
Social media connects potential donors with disaster
Social media, technology and innovation are increasingly shaping the way we learn about, identify with and respond to disasters such as this, said Una Osili, associate dean for research and international programs and professor in the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis.
"Through social media, we are able to witness the human face of the disaster unfolding in real time in the photos and videos on our phones, and we want to do something right now," she said. "Disaster giving is typically impulse giving: We see the need and we want to help. Online giving and text-to-give options let donors feel that they are helping immediately."
To speak with Osili, contact Adriene Kalugyer at 317-278-8972 or [email protected].
Proximity, media coverage influence giving
Several factors influence the response to a disaster and how much money is given, says Amir Pasic, the Eugene R. Tempel Dean and professor at the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at IUPUI. Factors include the perceived magnitude of the disaster, donors’ proximity to the affected region and the degree to which people identify with those affected.
"People tend to give more when they think they are giving to help ‘people like me,'" he said.
Pasic said the extent and type of media coverage is another important factor, as donations typically drop dramatically after media turn their attention elsewhere.
"Holding the public’s attention for the long haul will be a challenge in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, but it will be important to raising the funds necessary to meet long-term needs," he said. "Given the scope and duration of the disaster, the human and community needs will persist for years to come.”
To speak with Pasic, contact Adriene Kalugyer at 317-278-8972 or [email protected].
Lessons from Hurricane Sandy
Relief organizations can make more effective use of social media if they follow lessons learned by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the American Red Cross and the National Guard during Hurricane Sandy in 2012, say Lucy Yan and Alfonso Pedraza Martinez of the Kelley School of Business at IU Bloomington.
In particular, they say, relief organizations should focus their social-media efforts on potential donors and volunteers and provide official responses to the question, "How can I help?"
During Sandy, the organizations posted Facebook messages targeted to victims and evacuees. But data analytics found the people who were trying to engage on social media were rarely victims but typically donors and volunteers, whose questions were too often ignored.
What if an organization lacks the resources to respond to all questions on social media? "Answer the comments from users that are located close to the disaster area," Yan and Pedraza Martinez write in a summary of their recent academic article "Social Media for the Disaster Management Cycle." "They are more likely to make in-kind donations or volunteer."
Yan can be reached at 812-855-3369 or [email protected]. Pedraza Martinez can be reached at 812-855-6227 or [email protected].
Local teams, clubs can help with recovery
Small, local organizations can play a key role in finding disaster victims and identifying their needs, says Matthew Baggetta, associate professor in the School of Public and Environmental Affairs at IU Bloomington and an expert in civil society and voluntary associations.
"Local membership organizations like sports teams, arts groups, hobby clubs, veterans associations, youth groups and religious congregations can have members check in with each other and with organization leaders, who can then communicate those needs to first responders," he said.
Nonprofit organizations that serve consistent sets of clients -- such as youth mentoring and legal aid groups -- can act as de facto membership organizations by reaching out to clients, he said.
"Communities that had lots of social connections before the disaster are likely to recover faster and more completely because information and resources will travel through those social network connections," Baggetta said. "Socially marginalized groups are likely to be less connected to recovery efforts. Recovery efforts should put extra emphasis on reaching out to such socially marginalized individuals, organizations and communities and integrating them into community social networks."
Baggetta can be reached at 812-855-2783 or [email protected].
Disaster victims more resilient than we realize
Trent Williams, a visiting assistant professor in the Kelley School of Business in Bloomington, says it's important to keep in mind how resourceful and resilient victims can be in solving their own problems. Williams and his fellow researchers have found that, in contexts ranging from Haiti to Australia, local victims organize themselves to deliver compassionate relief.
"Outside efforts should seek to support, not stifle, the efforts of locals to respond to suffering and, eventually, facilitate the rebuilding of communities," he said. "One might ask: How can I identify and support the efforts of local actors seeking to rebuild their communities?"
Williams said recovery will involve stages, with the rush of initial search-and-rescue followed by time-consuming and costly efforts to recover and rebuild. Local circumstances are unique, he said, and it is paramount that local actors be given priority in achieving their desired outcomes.
Williams can be reached at 812-855-6125 or [email protected].
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