When a monster came to Alabama

[Anonymous]

Thanks so much for the links! I really like the list by Christie Dedman of The Birmingham News.

[Anonymous]

The Salvation Army is another donation option; they were helping in some areas almost immediately (as was the Red Cross). My husband's hometown (which is just a few miles from mine) was among those hit by an EF4 tornado and basically destroyed; thankfully our family members are okay. It is still upsetting; I really feel for those who lost loved ones and their homes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You know, I've wondered this also.. Don't' get me wrong... I feel for Haiti, Japan etc etc.. but how many of the people that donate to those causes also donate to help people in our country also..

I do not donate money to disaster relief in the U.S. Declaring a "State of Emergency" frees up both state and federal funds to mitigate these disasters, and my tax dollars fund that effort. About which I am very happy, by the way. I have in the past (and will in the future) travel to disaster areas and contribute labor where it's needed. But my charitable contribution is not called-for here.

No one will die in Alabama of cold or dehydration. There will be no cholera outbreak, and no children will waste away and die of malnutrition because they are so cut off from help. No family will be without a roof over their heads a month from now, much less a year from now. We have systems for ensuring it, and in general, those systems are pretty efficient.

That's why I donated money to aid efforts in Haiti and Pakistan (but not Japan). Better yet, I donate to organizations doing development work, so that the next catastrophe is marginally less catastrophic.