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Difficult as it is in today's world to assist with natural disasters and catastrophic emergencies, there seems to be no limit of resources to help the struggling and needy when something drastic and catastrophic happens---even though it seems at the time enough is never enough.

It's at moments like this we begin to realize that we are each other's best friend--- an answer to global survival. With the majority of global countries financially and emotionally strapped, somehow people still find heart to offer helping hands, not only to help each other but to those far away in desperate need when disaster strikes. One after another.

Where do gifts of caring and sharing come from?

It's difficult to understand where gifts of caring and sharing come from. Destroyed towns and cities are becoming more common with not enough aid, no jobs, no shelters, not enough food, no money, and a questionable future. Yet somehow the first offer of help comes from average people watching each and every disaster on television, people who dig a little deeper every time something major happens. An advantage, they are able to give what they cannot afford within seconds, minutes and hours---not weeks or months.

It's really not hard to understand, is it?  It takes a person who struggles for every meal to fully understand a person who has no food. It takes person who has just lost his job to fully understand a devastated country with no jobs for an unknown period of time. And it takes a person who has just lost a loved one to fully understand what it means to lose an entire family within a blink of an eye. The backbone of most nonprofit organizations seems to be one step above those who are in the most need.

Unconditional love for people in need

The heart of an average person shares freely through acts of unconditional love. Many have been in similar or worse situations. In turn, they "will know" what it is to be in trouble---with true empathy and compassion for the struggling. They respond instantly to a crisis or an unexpected disaster. They refuse to allow people in trouble to suffer any more than needed, because they themselves have suffered needlessly. Their response and expectations are based on what they feel and know within their hearts---and what their path has made of them. They are what they know.

Recent disasters

Between Haiti and Chili, we have recently seen two major disasters strike, bringing the international communities together in a way seldom seen before. We applaud them loudly, showing a side to the world we should immolate at all times.

There seems to be a universal guarantee that more disasters will be coming--- sooner than later. And each country will learn from every disaster that hits with changes made to save lives in a more efficient way. Building engineers will learn to design safer homes, office buildings, grocery stores, malls, hospitals, bridges, roads and infrastructures---safely helping people regain their lives back and confidence in their ability to move forward.

More help is needed

The rush of universal assistance arriving for both Haiti and Chili has been phenomenal, yet never enough for such total devastation. People cannot and do not eat for a month, then forced to call it quits because food is no longer available. Steady supplies of food and water are necessary for survival. In our own country, New Orleans has been proof of this.

We cannot and should not turn our backs on those in need. We have willingly held our hands out and pulled such individuals from such deep pits of despair. Genuine caring while offering money, shelter, food, building supplies, labor, and medical assistance are still on the "needed agenda". Once an area or city is destroyed, it takes months and years to rebuild.

For those who can offer a five-dollar bill every month or even twenty-dollars a month, it needs to be done without entering the game of questioning "who, why or where" the assistance goes.

Preparing for disasters

As we know from the Haiti disaster, at the beginning it feels as if emergency help never will arrive. Unfortunately, this is a situation which happens during most major catastrophic emergencies. And based on who we are, we question why donated money NEVER arrives in time for emergency medical aid, food, water and shelter. It's a fact, gathering supplies takes time with huge numbers. Delivering to shipping areas can be difficult if not impossible. And after Haiti, we won't even discuss trying to get the shipments into the devastated country with inadequate ports or lack of decent roads.

The current estimate for receiving help seems to be around 24-hours to three days or more, with the 911 Rescue and Emergency Medical Services becoming completely overwhelmed to the point of collapse each time huge catastrophes occur. Even though we saw people being pulled alive from Haiti after weeks of being buried in the rubble, in actuality very few people or families with children would be able to survive that long with blood loss, broken bones, lack of oxygen, starvation or thirst---depending on the type of disaster that occurs.

To prevent this, gifts of sharing and caring need to be combined with communities that can prepare in advance until emergency help arrives. It is up to the local schools, citizens, teachers, medical employees, instructors or training centers to learn Disaster First Aid and realistic First Aid well in advance. A one-day course, training involves the ability to respond to a large scale emergency quickly and effectively. Another plan would be to prepare in advance for needed supplies before disaster strikes. It's a much better solution than waiting until after the disaster hits.

Some basic needs and supplies of disaster victims:

• Cleaning supplies
• Clothing
• Counseling and support
• Disaster clean-ups --- dehumidifiers, wet/dry vacuums, and air purifiers
• Disease experts
• Elderly assistance
• Food
• Funeral and burial fees
• Heat --- heating oil, firewood, and gas
• Home repairs
• Housing assistance --- disaster related housing needs, rental assistance, permanent or semi-permanent housing, replacement housing
• Medical and dental assistance
• Nursing assistance
• Pet care
• Shelter – tents, temporary housing, government HUDS
• Storage or moving expenses
• Transportation