Floods can be catastrophic; if it is very severe, flood victims can lose everything: homes, jobs, even loved ones. Whether you donate money or help repair damaged houses, aid for flood victims can take many forms.
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Method 1 of 4: Considering How to Help
Step 1. Know the location of the flood
You probably already know which areas often flood. However, if you don't know yet, look for information about areas hit by floods and need help.
- Depending on the location of the flood, the humanitarian organization coordinating the relief varies.
- If flooding occurs in Indonesia, the Indonesian Red Cross and Community-Based Disaster Preparedness Team (CBAT) are likely to lead and coordinate assistance.
- If the flood occurs in another country or is an international natural disaster, find out if UNICEF or AmeriCares is delivering aid to that area.
- Call or visit the website of a particular humanitarian organization to find out what assistance the organization provides and how you can help.
Step 2. Get the latest information
As needs change, the assistance needed also changes. Certain needs may match the capabilities or resources you can provide, while others may not.
- In a disaster, certain assistance is needed at a certain time. For example, emergency assistance is needed immediately after a disaster occurs, while assistance in the form of long-term repairs can be needed for years to come.
- Organizations sometimes receive large amounts of one type of donation, such as clothing, but receive very little of the other. The best way to find out what help is most needed is to contact or read the latest news on the organization's social media accounts and check the status of the need and the organization's donation collection efforts.
Step 3. Consider the help you can provide
There are several ways to help flood victims; each has advantages and disadvantages as described below and in the sections following this article.
- If you have excess money or goods, donate it. Otherwise, time, skills, or other support resources can also be used to help flood victims.
- Each type of assistance has different advantages and disadvantages. The advantage of donating money is that you can act immediately and provide the organization with resources that can be used to provide the type of assistance that flood victims deem most needed. The downside of donating money is that you can't be sure that the money you donate actually goes to flood victims (find out first about how a particular organization distributes donations before you donate to that organization). One of the biggest advantages of volunteering, instead of donating money/goods, is that you can provide assistance in person and interact with many people. The downside of volunteering is that there is a risk of injury or other hazards associated with flooding.
Method 2 of 4: Donating
Step 1. Make a monetary donation
Donating money is an easy and effective way to help flood victims.
- Make sure you donate to a trusted organization, such as the Indonesian Red Cross or UNICEF. Unfortunately, bogus organizations can emerge after a disaster strikes and deceive well-meaning donors.
- Find out if donations can be made via SMS. Recently, many humanitarian organizations have provided keywords and phone numbers to make it easier for people to make donations. The amount you donate will appear on your next phone bill. This method is very easy and effective: to donate, all you need to do is send an SMS, in the form of the provided keyword, to the relevant phone number.
Step 2. Donate items
If you have excess items that are not used, donate them to flood victims in need.
- Clothing, socks, shoes, sheets, and blankets that are still suitable for use are almost always needed by flood victims.
- Books and toys can also be donated to help flood victims.
- Buy and donate new bottled water and food that doesn't go bad.
- First aid kits, mosquito nets, tents, soap and personal hygiene products are also required.
Step 3. Be a blood donor
Floods can cause serious injuries so blood donations may be needed. If there is a blood donation event in your area, and if you meet the health and age requirements, participate.
Step 4. Donate a leave allowance
Some large companies, particularly government agencies or institutions, allow employees to donate unused vacation or sick leave to co-workers in need. Contact the human resources department at work and ask if you can give your allotted leave to coworkers who are unable to come to work due to flooding.
Method 3 of 4: Volunteer
Step 1. Volunteer at the flood site
If the flood site can be reached safely enough, find out if the aid organization needs volunteers to help at the flood site.
- If you meet the requirements for height, weight, age, health, education, and citizenship, you can join the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB). BNPB is a non-departmental government agency with branches throughout Indonesia with tasks including responding to natural disasters.
- Be a volunteer at Aksi Cepat Tanggap or other organizations that help clean up rubble, rescue property for disaster victims, and repair damaged houses.
Step 2. Offer your professional skills
Time and professional skills are valuable resources that can greatly help flood victims.
- Health professionals can provide medical equipment and capabilities.
- Contractors or construction workers can provide manpower, equipment and other resources to rebuild the disaster site.
- Teaching staff or child educators can provide assistance and support to flood victims' families and children.
- Entrepreneurs, especially those who have businesses near flood locations, can provide goods/services for free or at a discounted price to flood victims.
Step 3. You can also volunteer outside the flood site
Even if you don't go directly to the flood site, you can still help.
- Contact the support organization's branch office and find out if they need help at a hotline, call center, or donation arrangement facility.
- You can also help collect donations in the area where you live, then drop them off at a donation management facility.
Method 4 of 4: Providing Other Help
Step 1. Provide shelter
If your house is near a flood site, but has not suffered any damage, accommodate families who have lost their homes and property to the flood.
Step 2. Provide spiritual support
When experiencing difficulties, many people rely on faith and draw emotional and spiritual strength from religious groups and teachings.
- If you are a member of a religious group or organization, support the group/organization in providing material and emotional/spiritual assistance to flood victims.
- Several large religious organizations, such as the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team in the United States, send trained religious leaders to natural disaster sites to organize aid distribution and provide emotional and spiritual support for victims.
- If you are spiritual, pray for flood victims and/or reflect for a moment on the disaster that occurred. Open your heart to the various aids you can provide and comfort flood victims.
Step 3. Provide emotional support
In addition to various other forms of assistance, having a loving and caring attitude can also help flood victims.
- Ask flood victims what they need: warm home cooking, help with pet care, help photographing flood damage for insurance claims, or something else? As much as possible, help them.
- Be a good listener. Remember, just listening and not offering opinions or solutions without being asked is sometimes the best option.
- Remember, people still need support days, months, and even years after a natural disaster strikes. Realize that new problems and difficulties can continue to arise, even after the flood has subsided.
Warning
- If you are not part of a relief group or organization, do not go to a flood site as it is dangerous and will not help in the end.
- Donate to a trusted organization so that your donation reaches those who really need it.
- Do not attempt to provide mental or psychological help if you are not a mental health professional.
