Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Mother Nature hits New Mexico

1 confirmed dead in flood; 200 still stranded in Ruidoso

If you're so inclined:
American Red Cross Disaster Services
Each year, the American Red Cross responds immediately to more than 70,000 disasters, including house or apartment fires (the majority of disaster responses), hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, tornadoes, hazardous materials spills, transportation accidents, explosions, and other natural and man-made disasters.

Although the American Red Cross is not a government agency, its authority to provide disaster relief was formalized when, in 1905, the Red Cross was chartered by Congress to "carry on a system of national and international relief in time of peace and apply the same in mitigating the sufferings caused by pestilence, famine, fire, floods, and other great national calamities, and to devise and carry on measures for preventing the same." The Charter is not only a grant of power, but also an imposition of duties and obligations to the nation, to disaster victims, and to the people who generously support its work with their donations.
... and the single quotation regarding Red Cross Disaster Services that I find most compelling:
All Red Cross disaster relief is free of charge—a gift of the American people.
As I said, if you're so inclined...

[note: there are many other worthy charities providing disaster relief services. I just happen to be partial to the Red Cross.]

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