Mississippi floods and Joplin tornado
- over 100 tornados' have hit the U.S. and the floods have ravaged parts of the U.S. 

How do people start over?

As residents confront a gigantic cleanup following the tornado that savaged Joplin, experts say environmental dangers could lurk amid the mountains of debris in the southwestern Missouri city and even in the water and air.

Damage from tornadoes, like floods and hurricanes, often goes beyond what is readily visible. Liquid fuels and chemicals can leak from ruptured containers and contaminate groundwater. Ruined buildings may contain asbestos. Fires can generate smoke containing soot, dioxins and other pollutants. Household, industrial and medical wastes are strewn about.  The massive clean-up is costly and dangerous.

So many homes gone, places of employment gone = no home, no jobs, where do they turn?  How do they start trying to rebuild?  You can help people rebuild their lives by giving today!

We have added the new United States disasters to this page, so below if you see Japan mentioned, you can also click on the link and find where to give for disaster relief for the United States on their website as well.

A devastating tsunami on March 11, 2011, spawned by the strongest earthquake to ever strike Japan has killed possible thousands and displaced tens of thousands. Thousands more are missing.

Many times we wonder who are the most honest and helpful places to donate to.  We have put together several organizations here. You can send your donations to the one you feel that God leads you to send your donations to.

In times like this is when the world should come together in God's love, care and a helping hand.

We CAN help by giving to those who can get there to make your dollars be a blessing to families in need!

CHECK OUT YOUR CHARITY BEFORE YOU GIVE;
SEE THE LINK AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE TO SEE HOW THEY RATE!

Your gift to the American Red Cross will support our disaster relief efforts to help the United States disasters those affected by the earthquake in Japan and tsunami throughout the Pacific. On those rare occasions when donations exceed American Red Cross expenses for a specific disaster, contributions are used to prepare for and serve victims of other disasters.
CLICK ON THE RED CROSS BANNER TO GIVE.

About the International Committee of the Red Cross

The ICRC, established in 1863, works worldwide to provide humanitarian help for people affected by conflict and armed violence and to promote the laws that protect victims of war. An independent and neutral organization, its mandate stems essentially from the Geneva Conventions of 1949. Based in Geneva, Switzerland, it employs some 12,000 people in 80 countries; it is financed mainly by voluntary donations from governments and from national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies. Read full overview

About What We Do

The ICRC is committed to responding rapidly and efficiently to the humanitarian needs of people affected by armed conflict or by a natural disaster occurring in a conflict area. Hostilities can explode without warning; natural disasters can strike unexpectedly and their effects may be multiplied in countries already riven by war. In the face of such unpredictable emergencies, the ICRC attaches great importance to its ability to deploy rapidly in the field.
http://www.icrc.org/eng

The aim of this site below is to help people get back in contact who have become separated by conflict or disaster in the UNITED STATES AND JAPAN.
FamilyLinks.icrc.org

CLICK ON BANNER TO THE LEFT TO MAKE A DONATION ONLINE

Text the words "Japan" or "Quake" to 80888 to make a $10 donation. Learn more about our work here.

AN ORGANIZATION YOU CAN TRUST!
No one knows when the next earthquake, flood or tsunami will strike. But we do know children are severely affected by natural disasters. They also suffer greatly during conflict, drought and disease outbreaks. That’s why Save the Children is prepared to help protect vulnerable boys and girls during disasters and their aftermath. We also support children's needs throughout ongoing, complex emergencies.
CLICK ON THE SAVE THE CHILDREN BANNER ABOVE TO GO TO THE MAIN SITE -OR-
YOU CAN DONATE DIRECTLY TO JAPAN RELIEF - CLICK HERE

Your donations are needed now in order to be prepared to respond to where we are needed here and around the world.

Our hearts go out to those hit by the 8.9 earthquake and the huge tsunami in Japan and surrounding countries. The pictures show massive destruction.

In situations like this we direct funds from our Disaster Relief general fund to provide assistance to those in need.

Feed The Children is closely monitoring the situation and has been in contact with the Japanese Embassy, as well as we are also closely monitoring the current wildfires in the United States.  We are standing ready and preparing to respond if our assistance is requested.  Your financial gift will go a long way to help those hurting in disasters.  Can you help with a gift today? 

Your donations to our disaster relief program will be used to respond with relief to help those suffering from disasters like these ... the key is being prepared -- internationally and domestically.  CLICK ON THE FEED THE CHILDREN ABOVE TO DONATE

CLICK BANNER BELOW TO GIVE

Medical Teams International has been in touch with its partners throughout Asia to see how we can best help following the devastating 8.9 magnitude earthquake in Japan on March 11. The good news is many of our church partners report their workers are safe. Please pray for all those affected by this disaster.
CLICK BANNER TO DONATE AND GET UPDATES.

We have put our disaster response volunteers on alert. As soon as we know if these volunteers are needed, we will mobilize them. Please watch this website for details or sign up for updates on our Facebook and Twitter pages.

Churches can also help here - Your donation of $25, $50, $100, $250 or more will help rush emergency medical aid and additional relief to victims of the Japan earthquake and other disasters.

Who We Are - CLICK BANNER TO DONATE

Serving since 1974 and incorporated in 1985, World Emergency Relief (WER) is a Public Benefit non-profit organization. WER and its global family of programs are in 24 countries around the world. Our vision is to address children’s critical needs of water, food, healthcare, education, and child safety, as well as the requirements of their families and communities, “giving children a living chance”.

World Emergency Relief is registered in states where required and is recognized by the IRS as a 501c(3) charity


Mission Statement

World Emergency Relief alleviates the suffering of human beings by providing humanitarian relief and developmental aid to people who have been marginalized by geography, or harmed by natural disaster, war, armed conflict, exploitation, physical or mental abuse, or economic deprivation.

FIND A CHARITY YOU CAN TRUST!   *CLICK BANNER

Charity Navigator, America's premier independent charity evaluator, works to advance a more efficient and responsive philanthropic marketplace by evaluating the financial health of over 5,500 of America's largest charities.

Japan Earthquake and Tsunami - Charities Providing Relief & Rating  CLICK HERE

A 8.9-magnitude earthquake struck Japan north of Tokyo on March 11. It resulted in a devastating tsunami which caused significant damage in coastal towns. There are reports of hundreds of possible injuries and fatalities. The death toll is expected to rise.

As a result of the earthquake, a tsunami alert was issued for New Zealand, the Philippines, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Hawaii, the U.S. West Coast and other areas.

Charities are beginning to mount an emergency response and donations are needed to help provide relief to those in need. If you wish to help, then please consider supporting one of the charities listed at the link above.

And before you give, please consult our giving tips listed below.

• Wait and see:  While we all feel an urgent need to help immediately following a massive disaster, some donors may want to wait a few days before donating. By then, charities should have a more clear plan of how they’ll provide aid.
• Avoid Newly-Formed Charities and Give To An Established Charity That Has Worked In Japan - Establishing a new charity is hard enough, but in a crisis, the odds of succeeding are slim to none. Think of it this way: would you entrust all your savings in a financial firm that just opened, doesn't even have stationery, and whose employees have no experience in investing money? Doubtful. Find a charity with a proven track record of success in providing disaster relief on a massive scale and one that has worked in Japan and the other impacted regions. Start with the list of charities on the right and if a group you are considering supporting isn’t there, then take the time to thoroughly research it before making a gift.
• Designate Your Investment – Generally, it is best to trust your chosen charity to spend your donation as it sees fit. But with disaster related giving, you should specify that you want your donation only used to respond to this particular crisis.
• Do Not Send Supplies – Knowing that people are desperately in need of food and water, it is hard not to want to pack up a box of supplies and send it to Japan. But this type of philanthropy is simply not practical or efficient. Even if mail could get to an impacted region, no one is set up to receive these goods, much less organize and distribute them to the victims. Furthermore, charities are often able to partner with companies to acquire large amounts of in-kind donations such as bottled water and new clothing. Instead of boxing up and sending your old clothing, have a garage sale and turn your used goods into cash and donate that to a worthy charity.
• Be Careful Of Email Solicitations
  • Be Leery Of People That Contact You Online Claiming To Be A Victim – Unless you personally know someone in Japan, anyone alleging to be in this position is most likely part of a scam. Obviously, people affected by the earthquake and tsunami are in no position to contact you directly for assistance.
  • Delete Unsolicited Emails With Attachments - Never respond to unsolicited emails. Do not open any attachments to these emails even if they claim to contain pictures from Japan. These attachments are probably viruses.
• Seek Out The Charity’s Authorized Website – Criminals are likely to set up bogus sites to steal the identity and money of generous and unsuspecting individuals. We saw this after Hurricane Katrina when the FBI reported that 4,000 sites were created to do just that. So, if you plan to give online, be sure to find the charity’s legitimate site. You can safely give on Charity Navigator’s site via our partnership with Network for Good. Alternatively, we link to each charity’s authorized site so you can give there if you prefer.  
• Think before you text - So long as you do your homework – meaning that you’ve vetted the charity and made sure that you are using the proper texting instructions- then texting can be a great way to give. Remember there may be additional costs to you to make such a gift. And it can take as much as 90 days for the charity to receive the funds.
• Consider The Nature Of The Charity’s Work – Not every charity is responding in the same way. Some are providing medical assistance, some shelter, some food and water. Others will be more focused on either short term or long term rebuilding efforts. And some are just helping to fundraise for other nonprofits. Think about what it is you want your philanthropic investment to accomplish and then take the time to find the charities doing that work. At Charity Navigator we link to each charity’s website so that you can quickly learn more about their plans to help.
• Be Inspired By Social Media, But Still Do Your Homework – Social networking tools like Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and blogs are delivering heart-wrenching images and information about the earthquake and tsunami to our computers and phones. Many of them include pleas to donate. While these tools can be a powerful tool to inspire your desire to help, you should not blindly give via these vehicles. You must take the time to investigate the groups behind such pleas for help to ensure that it comes from a legitimate nonprofit.
• Avoid Telemarketers – As always, hang up the phone do your homework and give directly to a charity.
• Do Not Expect Immediate Results, But Do Keep Tabs On What Your Donation Accomplishes- It takes time for charities to mobilize, to assess the problems that need to be addressed and to develop effective solutions. Donors need to be patient so charities will not feel pressured to plunge in and offer ineffective aid, simply to placate impatient donors. That doesn't mean donors shouldn't hold the charities accountable for delivering on their promises! Be sure to follow up with the charity in a few months to find out (a) how your donation was put to use and (b) if the organization needs additional support to complete the recovery effort.
• You can always check with the Better Business Bureau before giving. Better Business Bureau

    BE CAUTIOUS OF SCAMS

• While there's a natural inclination to help in situations like these, it's important to keep in mind that just as disasters bring out the best in humanity, they also bring out the worst. Scammers looking to take advantage of good Samaritans' loose purse strings abound after any disaster and this one is sure to be no different. Scams started to spread across Facebook and other social networking sites only minutes after the quake struck.
• That said, the preponderance of people looking to take advantage of the tragedy shouldn't stop anyone from donating. If anything, it should encourage people to donate more in that knowledge that some of their fellow do-gooders' cash will doubtlessly end up in the pockets of people who don't deserve it. If you decide to donate to an earthquake-related charity, its important to take some precautions before you give. As a result of the fraudulent activity that sprang up online after the catastrophic earthquake that struck Haiti last year, there's now a rigorous set of safeguards in place for people to follow when giving to a disaster relief effort.
  

• Treat any spam email or Facebook message requesting money or asking you to download an attachment (such as a picture of the devastation) the same way you would non-charity based spam. They're likely trying to steal your password so just delete it.
• Don't be afraid to ask questions. The person on the other end of your correspondence (be it on email or over the phone) should be able to tell you basic information about the name, address and phone number of the organization. Charities are expected to know how much of your donation will go directly to people in need. Good non-profits generally welcome these type of questions so use common sense. If something seems fishy, it probably is.
• Being smart about giving shouldn't equal being too scared to give. There are lots of legitimate ways for your money to get to the earthquake's victims, here are some more.
  
  -- Global Giving's Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Relief Fund
  
  -- Network for Good: Help Survivors of Japan Quake & Tsunami