Comments on: Disaster Relief Kit: What’s Inside?

By: Judith Tremblay

Judith Tremblay — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 04:22:53 +0000

@Becky – Thanks for the clarification.

By: Becky

Becky — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 20:07:09 +0000

Judith,

Yes, it’s one kit per family.

The purpose of a disaster relief kit is to provide immediate relief and address critical needs in the wake of a disaster. It is not meant to sustain the family long term.

In cases where there are additional long term needs, we follow up these immediate relief efforts with more sustainable solutions. This might include things like trauma counseling, income generation, or rebuilding homes.

By: Judith Tremblay

Judith Tremblay — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 00:43:25 +0000

@Becky – It’s wonderful that things are personalized based on need, and not cookie cutter: one kit for all disasters. You’re right; the needs are different based on the situation.

But, is it one kit per family, and that’s it? or are additional supplies available if they run out of (food, diapers) before they can get more when things get back to normal?

By: Juli Jarvis

Juli Jarvis — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 23:34:35 +0000

Wow — this is so interesting! Thanks so much for writing about this –

By: Dana

Dana — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 23:17:52 +0000

That’s neat to see. I’ve often heard about them but wondering what was actually in them, though I had a general idea. I love that there are cookies inside – something comforting in the midst of the calamity around them.

By: Becky

Becky — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 17:43:36 +0000

Hi Judith,

This kit was designed to address the specific needs after the hurricane in Honduras.

Each time a disaster occurs, we tailor our response to best address the needs of that disaster.

In Bangladesh, Compassion distributed Oral Rehydration Therapy and water purifier tablets to families since clean water was such a huge need.

Each disaster will be different so it will call for a different response. I just wanted to share with you one recent response.

Becky

By: Chuck Guth

Chuck Guth — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 15:49:59 +0000

Thanks! Very interesting as to what is supplied and the fact that Compassion is so reactive to these situations. Glad for the update on Honduras!

By: Amy Wallace

Amy Wallace — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 14:46:21 +0000

I like how they put candy and cookies in there – those always brighten up my day, and I would hope they would do the same for the people affected by these disasters.

By: Judith Tremblay

Judith Tremblay — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 13:55:09 +0000

That’s great! Wonderful to see what actually happens in the countries where we work.

Even here in the States, no matter whether we live along the Gulf or Atlantic Coast, or more inland, there’s always some kind of disaster. Hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, floods.

I wonder…are these disaster relief kits given out one per family, or one per person…? It looks like the one in the picture would go for an entire family, but I’m mainly wondering what happens when the water runs out, if normal water service is not available yet. Like in Bangladesh after the cyclone.