Finding ways to help remotely in the wake of natural disasters, eg Los Angeles fireNot always straightforward.
Despite the best intentions, people can sometimes do more harm than good by making unnecessary donations to local organizations or by inadvertently hindering relief efforts by making uninformed decisions about how best to donate or volunteer.
And then there are scams. The chaotic aftermath of disasters is a prime environment for fraudsters to set up fraudulent funding campaigns or exploit the situation for nefarious purposes, siphoning off much-needed donations from well-meaning people.
If you are looking for ways to help victims and recovery efforts LA fireHere’s a handy guide on how to find reliable sources. We’ve also provided some best practices for navigating the situation online.
Find out where to donate
is considered One of the most destructive fires Throughout the history of Los Angeles, there have been many people in need of help, and subsequently, a lot of information about their needs, leading to confusion about how to help.
If you’re trying to tap into this mountain of information for things you can do, Start by researching certified and trusted organizations that are working on the ground to get the money or goods you donate to the right places. Check local and federal government and established nonprofit sites that provide vetted resources.
The Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) and California’s official website regularly updates what is needed and where to donate. For monetary donations, LAFD lists it the foundation To provide fire fighting equipment and supplies, California Community Foundation’s Wildfire Recovery FundThe American Red Crossand the Salvation Army As alternatives. LAFD has also linked LAworks.com which supports local Los Angeles nonprofits for volunteer opportunities and resources.
California Official Website, CA.gov There is also a list of Inspection bodies To donate money and volunteer opportunities through the governor’s office California Volunteers Department
The Mutual Aid Los Angeles Network (MALAN), a hub for mutual aid efforts and resources, has a Regularly updated database Information about local organizations and their solicitation and volunteer needs.
If you are trying to directly help individuals and families displaced by the fire, GoFundMe Has a dedicated fundraising campaigns section that has been verified by the site’s Trust and Security team.
The Pasadena Humane Society is no longer accepting pet supply donations, but they still need monetary donations, which can be made here.
Mashable Top Stories
Find out how to best donate and what these organizations need
When doing your research, look carefully and often at what organizations do and don’t do Need LAFD urges people not to drop off donations at fire stations and shelters, as it “impacts the critical operations of these frontline responders.” Likewise, the city of Pasadena Announced on X That it is “full of money [of food and other basic supplies] And we are no longer accepting additional donations.”
Tweets can be deleted
Organizations often state what things are needed. Second-hand clothing or used/opened packages of food and toiletries may not always be welcome. MALAN, an LA-based mutual aid network, is providing real-time, detailed information on what each donation drive needs and whether they are accepting volunteers.
On that note, there is an incentive to get ready to walk in the door of an organization. However, training volunteers often requires time and effort that could be spent elsewhere. During an ongoing disaster like the LA fire. So double check with their sites and social media accounts for updated information on how to best volunteer your time or resources. Sometimes the most needed resource is simply money.
Share reliable information
With emotions running high and social media doing what it always does, misinformation abounds during crises like the LA fire.
When firefighting efforts in Pacific Palisades ran out of water, rumors that it was due to broken fire hydrants prompted the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. Set the record straight. The fire hydrants were not broken, this was due to the “unprecedented and excessive demand for water to fight forest fires without air support”.
Viral satellite image Burning Altadena doesn’t actually show the fire, it’s the infrared imaging that shows the heat maps of the fire. So while the destruction is real, it is not what the fire appears to the naked eye.
Meanwhile, fact-checking sites like Snopes and PolitiFact have been busy debunking False robbery claims, Misleading claims about budget cutsAnd Fingers were raised by politicians.
Now is an especially good time to read social media with extra scrutiny, and think carefully before reposting or sharing something online. Ask yourself if a post seems inflammatory, about the original source of the information, and whether you have enough context for the news you’re reading.
A good strategy is to quickly evaluate the information you want to share online SIFT methodwhich was developed by digital literacy expert Mike Caulfield. SIFT is an acronym that stands for 1. Stop, 2. Check the Source, 3. Find Better Coverage, and 4. Trace Claims, Citations, and Media back to the original context.
At the very least, be careful about what information you believe, and re-share from your social media feeds.
Beware of scams
Scammers prey on people during such times by exploiting their emotional investment and taking advantage of the urgency and gravity of the situation. In addition to luring people to donate through fake fundraising campaigns, scammers are also abusive, targeting people on social media with phishing calls, texts, emails and direct messages.
Through social engineering, they may not even ask for money directly, but trick you into sensitive information, such as contact information and passwords, under the guise of needing help or offering help on your behalf. If you’re donating outside of official channels, such as sending money through Venmo or sending supplies to someone, it’s best to go through trusted networks of people you know or people who can vouch for them.
If you think someone is trying to cheat you, then Federal Trade Commission And Better Business Bureau There are some suggestions. Find specific information about charities that you can research and verify, and don’t give them any money or personal information until you’ve verified the organization.
Scammers often emphasize the urgency of the situation and try to get you to donate immediately. But legitimate charities will have websites with secure donation portals, so if it’s a real organization you can always look it up and donate later.
subject
Cyber security
nature
