Last year, like many other people, I watched with horror as oil flooded into the Gulf of Mexico and I wondered how I could help. While my background is in disaster relief, I could not throw on my old Red Cross jacket and head down to Louisiana; my three year old daughter would not allow it. As the oil continued to leak, I came up with the idea of developing a website to serve as an information clearinghouse on the Gulf Oil Spill. My goal was to provide a website where people could easily find how to get help or give help as the disaster continued.
The website received a surprising number of hits and before long I had users in Louisiana, Florida, and Mississippi. I was also contacted by a reporter from the Times Picayune when she had stumbled across my website; she thought it was the most comprehensive list of volunteer opportunities she had seen. For nearly an hour we talked about the communication gap between organizations that are recruiting assistance and those who want to help. As I hung up the phone, I realized by making information easily assessable, I was on the right track. The seeds of KateNation were planted.
I have spent the last six months laying the framework for KateNation, an organization dedicated to connecting people to resources when disaster strikes. Whether your goal is to get help or give help, KateNation is here to assist. From drafting bylaws, to forming a board, to applying for 501c3 status (we are still awaiting final approval), there has been a lot of work behind the scenes. Now, finally, the KateNation website is LIVE! While there is still a lot a work to do, we are finally supporting our mission and working to connect people to the resources they need.
As I was planning the Blog, I intended to launch with a week of preparedness with the focus on children and disasters. But with all that is happening in Japan right now, my focus was changed. So this first entry is simply an introduction and to let you know that KateNation is tracking the situation in Japan. Please visit the Japan tab and learn what disaster relief organizations are on the ground and what services they are providing. If you are interested in making a donation, you can read about how and where to make your donation count. The page also includes information on resources for locating a missing person.
Thank you for all of your support. If you have questions, comments, or suggestions, please email me at kate@katenation.org or visit our Facebook page - http://www.facebook.com/KateNation.Disaster.Relief to stay connected.
Written by Kate Schweigart
