Above / A Community Meeting to address best practices and ways to respond to victims of Hurricane Harvey began at 8AM Thurs., Aug. 31, 2017, at the Naperville Municipal Center, 400 S. Eagle St. Dan Nelson, Emergency Management Coordinator, provided an overview of preparedness, and offered the best ways for communities to respond to natural disasters and other emergency events.
UPDATE, Aug. 31, 2017 / Today Mayor Steve Chirico welcomed about 75 interested residents, business leaders and government officials to City Council Chambers to hear from Naperville Emergency Management Coordinator Dan Nelson and Naperville resident and disaster relief volunteer Susan Koranda regarding the best ways to help in the aftermath of the horrific Hurricane Harvey that has left much of southeast Texas and the region around Houston flooded and in need of emergency assistance and recovery.
The message was money, money, money.
Right now sending money to well-organized charities such as the Salvation Army and the American Red Cross is the best way to help the beginning of relief efforts to devastation that has not fully been identified.
Planning trips to volunteer at this time is premature. Until all the needs are assessed, the general public is asked to stay out the way of the professionals unless asked.
Now is the time to be “trained in spiritual and emotional care,” so when the call for volunteers comes, trained individuals can respond, explained Koranda, a member of the Chicago Salvation Army Advisory Board and trained volunteer with the Salvation Army and Red Cross. Folks can sign up for training via the Salvation Army or Red Cross, she said.
Currently, Houston needs medical volunteers. Other “best ways to help Harvey victims” meet immediate needs are posted on Houston’s website at www.houstontx.gov.
Blood donations also are needed, especially Type O. Residents can give blood locally and designate the gift of life for Houston.
As local events are planned to raise funds to help Houston recover from Harvey, the City’s website will keep residents apprised.
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Original Post, Aug. 30, 2017 / Mayor Steve Chirico invites all residents to a community meeting at 8AM on Thursday, August 31, in Council Chambers of the Naperville Municipal Center, 400 S. Eagle St., to discuss community efforts to respond to the ongoing Hurricane Harvey disaster in Houston and the southeast coast of Texas.
Hosted by Mayor Chirico and Naperville resident Susan Koranda, a member of the Advisory Board for the Chicago Salvation Army and volunteer with the Salvation Army and Red Cross, the event will discuss best practices in disaster relief giving, how to avoid scams, the importance of long-term relief efforts and how Naperville residents can best help in the immediate aftermath of Harvey.
“The response from Naperville residents wanting to help their fellow Americans has been overwhelming,” Mayor Steve Chirico said. “While we all want to do as much as possible as soon as possible, as a community we should make sure we are helping in a way that gives the greatest support to those impacted by Hurricane Harvey. This gathering is a way for us to coordinate our efforts in a meaningful way that meets the most pressing needs of those who have suffered great losses in Texas. I encourage everyone to attend.”
Editor’s Note: After Hurricane Katrina in August 2005, Naperville Responds to Katrina was established to raise funds to build 20 homes in the storm-ravaged Gulf Coast community of Pass Christian, Mississippi. During that experience, this city learned much about timing, organization and how to fulfill the unmet needs of a city devastated by the loss of many lives, homes, businesses, churches and all its landmarks in a day. Twelve years ago, Chirico served as secretary for the Naperville Responds to Katrina initiative that attracted support from thousands of local residents, businesses, schools, churches and more.
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2015 Holiday Greeting to Naperville from Pass Christian, MS, 10 years after Hurricane Katrina
