Cal OES Supports the Typhoon Relief Effort in California
Channel: Cal OES
Date: 2013-11-18

As a reminder, only donate to trusted affiliations online or when you call their 800 number. Do not provide your bank information to anyone who calls asking for a donation. 
 
The California Governor's Office of Emergency Services is monitoring resource demands for the impacted region of the Philippines, as well as the available services from the State of California's business and utility partners.
 
If you would like to get involved, check out our information links below.
 
·      How do I find a loved one in the impacted area?
 
If you are looking for someone in the area where Typhoon Yolanda/Haiyan struck, there are several non-profit organizations helping locate people in the Philippines.
o   Google has launched a person finder, click on the link to find
     someone of if you have information about someone.
o   American Red Cross is helping to reconnect families separated by
     this typhoon and has activated its family tracing services. If people are
     looking for a missing family member in the Philippines, please
     remember that many phone lines are down. If people are unable to
     reach loved ones, contact your local chapter of the American Red  
     Cross to initiate a family tracing care.
o   AT&T and Verizon are offering free calls and texts to the Philippines
     for customers trying to contact friends and family in the Philippines
     affected areas.
 
·      What is the most needed to donate, items or cash?
 
The most effective way people can assist relief efforts is by making cash contributions to humanitarian organizations that are conducting relief operations to ensure a well-coordinated and well-resourced humanitarian response.
 
We know from experience that monetary donations to reputable relief organizations are the fastest and the most effective way to assist survivors in the critical early phase of a relief effort.
 
CaliforniaVolunteers serves as the state agency for the coordination of volunteers and monetary donations during response and recovery.
 
·      What other organizations are helping with this devastation?

There are dozens of non-profit organizations that are lending a hand in the relief efforts from emergency relief to food and water and medical supplies. Below is a comprehensive list of some of the agencies aiding the people and the nation of the Philippines. 
 
o   USAID

o   American Red Cross

o   Philippine Red Cross 

o   National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC)

o   Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)

o   The Salvation Army 

o   Convoy of Hope

o   The International Rescue Committee

o   Catholic Relief Services

o   International Medical Corps

o   Direct Relief

o   World Vision's Philippines Disaster Response Fund 

o   Action Against Hunger

o   World Food Program (WFP)

o   Mercy Corps

o   Habitat for Humanity

o   Americares

o   International Medical Corps

o   Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors without Borders)

o   UNICEF

o   Save the Children

o   ChildFund International 

o   CBM  for people with access and functional needs 

​o   Portlight Strategies Inc