The International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM) expresses sympathy for the people of Haiti, who are suffering in the aftermath of the massive 7.0-magnitude earthquake on Jan. 12 that left behind thousands of victims dead, injured, trapped in debris, and homeless. It will take several days, according to the International Red Cross, to know the full extent of the disaster.

Many nations are already coming to the aid of Haiti, with humanitarian efforts underway to assist the Haitian people with food, water, temporary shelter, medical services, and more. However, as with any major disaster, governments are not able to provide 100 percent of what is needed. In a statement issued today by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Secretary Janet Napolitano described U.S. assistance en route to Haiti, also stating, “I encourage the American people to donate what funds they can afford to disaster relief organizations such as the American Red Cross to allow these voluntary groups to provide goods and services to disaster survivors as quickly as possible.”

“IAEM encourages its members and the public to get involved in the relief efforts,” said Rick Cox, CEM, Chairman, IAEM-Global Board of Directors. “We recognize that the most effective means is often through donations to reputable organizations that are coordinating and providing emergency response.”

Here are a few of many options when considering donations to aid Haiti:

American Red Cross (www.redcross.org)
Florida International Volunteer Corps (www.favaca.org)
Pan American Development Foundation (www.panamericanrelief.org)
Samaritan’s Purse (www.samaritanspurse.org)
UN ReliefWeb (www.reliefweb.int)

The International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM), which has more than 5,000 members in 58 countries, is a non-profit educational organization dedicated to promoting the goals of saving lives and protecting property during emergencies and disasters. IAEM provides: access to the largest network of emergency management experts who can provide advice and assistance; the Certified Emergency Manager® program; annual scholarships; a comprehensive monthly newsletter; and more. Learn about the work of IAEM at www.iaem.com.

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