Disaster Volunteering: Learn, Prepare, Engage

1. Disaster Volunteering: Learn, Prepare, Engage

2. Menu Lesson 1 - Introduction Lesson 4 - Disaster response organizations This lesson provides a brief overview of the course and provides the course objectives. This lesson provides an overview of how disaster response organizations work in unison to provide disaster relief. Lesson 2 - When disaster strikes Lesson 5 - Call to action This lesson provides an overview of common disasters and the needs that follow a disaster. This lesson provides an overview of volunteers in action and identifies the steps to becoming a disaster volunteer. Lesson 3 - The disaster response community This lesson provides an overview of the efforts put forth by the disaster response community.

3. Lesson 1 - Introduction

4. Course Introduction Lesson 1 - Introduction

5. Welcome Welcome to Disaster Volunteering: Learn, Prepare, Engage. In this course, you will learn about: • The impact of disasters on families and communities • The importance and power of communities working together following disasters • How people personally benefit from the services provided by disaster relief organizations • The need for volunteers to provide service to others This course includes: • Content to review • Interactive and multimedia screens • Questions to check your knowledge Some images and video are provided by the American Red Cross and the International Federation of Red Cross/Red Crescent Societies.

6. What you will learn • After completing this course, you should be able to: • Explain how disasters affect people and communities • Describe how the community works together in disaster preparedness and response • Describe what different organizations do following disaster • Recognize how your skills could be useful in helping with recovery from a disaster • Identify next steps to become a volunteer

7. Lesson 2 – When disaster strikes

8. Think about it Have you or someone you know ever been impacted by disaster? There are many amenities and primary services that we often take for granted — until they are gone. This lesson describes the most common types of disasters and how they affect people and communities. Think about this question as you go through this lesson. What if this happened to me?

9. What you will learn • The impact of disaster varies, depending on the type of disaster or emergency and the services needed.   • Lesson objectives • After completing this lesson, you should be able to: • State the types of disasters that typically affect people and communities • Recognize the needs that arise from disasters — obvious needs, and others not as obvious • Describe the effect that volunteers can have on relief and recovery efforts

10. Devastation caused by disaster (1 of 2) Although many disasters never make the news, disasters occur more often than we might think. A few make global headlines because of their destructive powers and devastation. Select the image to see how the 2015 earthquakes in Nepal caused devastation across a wide area.

11. Devastation caused by disaster (2 of 2)

12. Types of disasters We are all familiar with many types of disasters. Some can be predicted, while others occur without warning — but in either case the loss and trauma can be significant.

13. Check your knowledge 1 Which of the following are considered common disasters? Select the correct answers. A. Floods B. Wildfires C. Tornadoes D. Robberies

14. How lives are affected Following a disaster, personal loss and destruction can be devastating. In an instant, the basic routines of life can be transformed into uncertainty. These examples show challenges people might face after a disaster. How do I replace medical supplies I depend on? How can I find members of my extended family? How will I get food and water for my children? How can I replace important personal documents, such as those I need to access my bank account or apply for government help?

15. Consequences of disaster When entire communities are stricken, the impact can be enormous. Civic services may be interrupted with power down, roads blocked, perhaps even a shortage of drinking water. Added to the personal loss, stress from lack of essential services grows daily. Businesses may be shut down and jobs lost. For families and communities, recovery from disaster can take weeks, months…even years.

16. Check your knowledge 2 What are some of the impacts on people and communities affected by disaster? Select the correct answers. A. Loss of services B. Power outages C. Loss of possessions D. Blocked roads

17. How prepared are you? - scenarios Emergencies happen every day around the world, but most people are not properly prepared. For instance, the US government estimates that between 20% and 40% of Americans have put in place some form of preparation for an emergency situation (source: Ready.gov). Read each scenario and the checklist. Scenario 1 It's late on a Friday afternoon, and a dangerous storm is battering your region. You made it home safely but the weather is deteriorating rapidly, and several road closings have been announced due to flooding. Your spouse is working in another city and cannot get home using public transportation as usual. You're also concerned about your elderly parents, who live two miles from your home. Road conditions are dangerous, and local officials have warned against travelling, except to move to higher ground. Should you try to travel, or stay home? Scenario 2 You are at your work location and cannot travel home by bus as usual due to severe weather warnings and gridlocked city traffic. A caretaker is home with your small children and calls you in a panic. They have been told to evacuate due to threats posed by the weather. Shuttles will pick up families in the area within the hour. She needs to know what she should carry from your home with the children, and she's not sure where they will be taken. What do you tell her? What would you do? Would you be prepared in similar situations?

18. How prepared are you? – checklist • Basic items to have in case of disaster or emergency • Water: 4 liters (or 1 gallon) per person, per day — 3-day supply for evacuation, 2-week supply for home • Food: non-perishable, easy-to-prepare items — 3-day supply for evacuation, 2-week supply for home • Flashlight • Battery-powered or hand-cranked radio • Extra batteries • First aid kit • Medications (7-day supply) and medical items • Map(s) of your area, noting the locations of emergency services (hospital, police, shelters) and any official evacuation routes • Multipurpose tool • Sanitation and personal hygiene items • Copies of personal documents (medication list and pertinent medical information, proof of address, deed/lease to home, passports, birth certificates, insurance policies, etc.) • Cell phone with chargers • Family and emergency contact information — a written list of phone numbers, addresses, etc • Extra cash • Emergency blanket

19. Check your knowledge 3 According to the list of basic items needed following a disaster, what is the recommended daily supply of water to have on hand for each person in your household? Select the correct answer. A. 1 liter B. 2 liters C. 3 liters D. 4 liters

20. Summary The impact of disaster on families, communities, and even an entire nation can be devastating. Review the three key points covered in this lesson. Following small or large disasters, people need food, clothing, shelter, and drinking water. Some common consequences of disaster include closed roads, power outages, closed or destroyed businesses, blood shortages, and lost jobs. Often, people are not ready for an emergency. Be prepared by having basic essential items on hand and by arranging emergency contacts and procedures in advance.

21. Lesson 3 – The disaster response community

22. Focus on local actors

23. What you will learn • Disaster preparedness and response are community-wide efforts. This lesson emphasizes the power of community agencies, organizations, and individuals coming together in times of need. • Lesson objectives • After completing this lesson, you should be able to: • Identify ways in which disaster agencies, governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), businesses, and volunteer groups work in unison to provide disaster relief • Recognize the effect that volunteers, people like you, can have on disaster relief efforts in their communities

24. Who might arrive first in times of disaster? Groups who respond first may include police, fire, local government, army personnel, and other agencies involved in emergency response. In other cases, local civilians may intervene before formally trained first-responders arrive. Untrained responders should take care not to impede the efforts of professional responders or highly trained volunteers. Additionally, civilians should be careful not to put themselves or others in danger during their effort.

25. The collaborative response Following a disaster, community groups and local agencies collaborate in the response. Here are some examples.Learn how community groups and neighbors like you help with the relief effort. Businesses might be able to provide financial or other assistance, and support their employees' volunteerism. Companies can set up collection places for donations of essential items such as food, medical supplies, blankets, and so forth. In many countries, individuals, faith-based groups, and NGOs are often available to help on short notice. Facilities for shelters may be offered by a variety of organizations.

26. Disaster strikes Imagine… A massive flood occurs in your community and destroys 170 homes. Hundreds are in need of assistance. This activity allows you to explore how various community resources come together. Find out on the next page.

27. Disaster strikes activity Review examples of how local agencies and community groups might help after a disaster such as this. • Individual volunteer: • Assist in a shelter • Distribute bottled water and cleaning supplies • Neighborhood association: • Provide prepared meals • Gather information about disaster needs and damage • Business: • Donate money to the relief effort • Donate needed supplies like bottled water • Support employees in disaster volunteer work • Non-profit organization: • Gather information about damage and disaster needs • Run a shelter • Provide recovery information and resources • Government agencies: • Provide civic protection and security • Coordinate services and provide assistance • Faith-based organization: • Collect and distribute essential items to families • Provide prepared meals • Assist in a shelter

28. The community responds • Community groups and individuals work together to meet a wide range of needs after a disaster by: • Distributing bottled water and cleaning supplies • Collecting and distributing, diapers, food, other essential items • Providing prepared meals • Assisting in a shelter • Providing civic protection and security • Coordinating services • Providing facilities for shelters • Gathering information about damage and disaster needs • Donating money to the relief effort • Donating needed supplies like bottled water • Supporting employees in disaster volunteer work

29. Are special skills needed? The skills you use every day are desperately needed after a disaster. While some roles require special skills, many others do not. With proper training, anyone can help. You already have many of the skills needed to be a valued volunteer.

30. Help in action With the help of many, people and communities do recover. The International Federation of Red Cross & Red Crescent Societies is an example of an organization that uses volunteers effectively and provides a range of emergency response services. Select the play icon to see the power of community in action.

31. Summary • Communities coming together are vital to recovery efforts after a disaster. • Local government, police, fire, military personnel, and other government agencies might be the first to arrive and provide assistance following an emergency • Individuals like you, supporting the work of community groups, businesses, and government agencies are critical to response and recovery efforts • Organizations like the International Federation of Red Cross & Red Crescent Societies collaborate with many community agencies to help with short-term and long-term needs • With your life experiences and the desire to help, you too can be a volunteer

32. Lesson 4 – Disaster response organizations

33. What you will learn • A wide variety of organizations contribute to disaster response efforts. IBM has a history of assisting with relief work all over the world, expressing our commitment to humanitarian response through close work with government agencies and NGOs worldwide. • Lesson objectives • After completing this lesson, you should be able to: • Name several international agencies that provide disaster relief • Identify the world's largest humanitarian network • Describe ways in which IBM and other companies respond to disasters

34. Disaster response organizations play a critical role When disasters happen anywhere, there are many organizations that collaborate and partner effectively to provide assistance. Learn about seven global organizations, several of which IBM partners with. CARE is a leading humanitarian organization fighting global poverty. CARE also delivers emergency aid to survivors of war and natural disasters, and helps people rebuild their lives. The International Medical Corps works to relieve the suffering of those impacted by war, natural disaster, and disease by delivering vital health care services that focus on training and helping devastated populations return to self-reliance. The International Rescue Committee responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping people to survive and rebuild their lives. Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders) helps people worldwide where the need is greatest, delivering emergency medical aid to people affected by conflict, epidemics, disasters, or exclusion from health care. Save the Children is the world's leading independent organization for children. The organization prepares for disasters and responds immediately to children and families who urgently need help when disasters strike. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, or UNHCR, also known as the UN Refugee Agency, is mandated to lead and coordinate international action to protect and safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees, and resolve refugee problems worldwide. The World Food Programme is the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide. As the United Nations' frontline agency in the fight against hunger, WFP is continually responding to emergencies. They save lives by getting food to the hungry, fast.

35. Largest humanitarian network in the world While many disaster response organizations perform monumental tasks with the assistance of dedicated volunteers, the largest humanitarian network in the world — with more than 17 million volunteers — is the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, or IFRC. The Red Cross and Red Crescent movement acts before, during, and after disasters in non-conflict situations. Societies serve as auxiliaries to the public authorities in their countries in humanitarian matters. The IFRC was founded in 1919, and its member Red Cross and Red Crescent societies have strong roots in local communities.

36. Corporations and disaster response • Many corporations offer assistance to help with disaster response and recovery as part of their corporate citizenship programs. • Here are some examples of what companies might do: • Attend to the needs of their own employees after a disaster • Donate their own products or services to NGOs or government agencies • Help disaster agencies obtain supplies such as water, tents, or medicine • Support their employees as they volunteer, as long as volunteers are not put at risk • Collaborate with other corporations, NGOs, and umbrella groups to coordinate a response • Provide grant support to organizations that assist in times of disaster or improve preparedness for future disasters

37. IBM and its disaster strategy IBM offers assistance after disasters to help with response and recovery. Since 2001, IBM has responded to more than 70 disasters around the globe. In addition, IBM works to help communities be more prepared for disaster. Learn more about IBM's strategy for disaster response. Partnerships IBM partners with NGOs or government agencies that request assistance before, during, and after disasters. Technology & services The company makes donations of technology and services to address specific needs articulated by their partner organizations. Volunteerism IBM enables and supports volunteer activities through IBM Volunteers, a global volunteer initiative for employees and retirees. Sahana IBM supports the use of Sahana, an open source disaster management application governed by the Sahana Software Foundation, through mobilization of volunteers to help customize Sahana and train emergency workers in its use. Employee donations IBM provides a means for employees to make charitable contributions directly to key organizations.

38. Check your knowledge 4 What is the largest humanitarian network in the world? Select the correct answer. A. CARE B. UNHCR C. IFRC D. AMA

39. How IBM volunteers have helped IBM volunteers have often had a positive impact on disaster response and frequently continue their service long after the event to which they initially responded. Read examples of how trained volunteers have helped. Germany IBM volunteers joined with the German Red Cross in 2015 to learn and adapt Sahana, helping manage some of the 8,000 refugees being processed in Mannheim. Sweden Working through the Swedish Red Cross, IBMers delivered hundreds of hours of volunteer service weekly to refugees at the border during the winter of 2016. Austria IBM volunteers developed a plan and trained volunteers to provide German-language training and mentoring for refugee children in a multi-year project. New York In 2014, IBM volunteers helped organize an Ebola Open Data Jam, which joined the local tech community with health experts to develop open data solutions. Minnesota An IBM volunteer grew his ham radio hobby into skills that contribute to emergency response communications in many settings.

40. How IBM volunteers have helped, continued Read more examples of how trained volunteers have helped. India Dozens of IBMers organized to collect and distribute food, water, and relief supplies in the immediate aftermath of flooding in the city of Chennai in late 2015. Ecuador Following the 2016 earthquake, IBMers collected needed supplies such as food, clothing, and medicine and transported them to areas in need. Taiwan The 2015 Dengue Fever outbreak prompted seven IBMers to volunteer their skills in big data and analytics to assess mitigation options, working with public health officials. Japan IBMers coordinated as a team to apply their individual skills to support a range of relief organizations after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. Global In 2015, thousands of IBMers joined "Open Development for Disaster Response," a global online effort, to spur innovation in technical support of disaster response.

41. Check your knowledge 5 Match each description to the name of its organization. Descriptions 1. An open source disaster management application supported by IBM and used in many countries 2. Organization that leads and coordinates international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems worldwide 3. Humanitarian organization delivering emergency medical aid to people affected by conflict, epidemics, disasters, or exclusion from health care 4. Leading humanitarian organization fighting global poverty Organization names A. CARE B. Sahana C. Medecins sans Frontieres D. UNHCR

42. Check your knowledge 6 What are some of the ways in which IBM responds to disasters? Select the correct answers. A. Makes donations of technology and services to address specific needs B. Provides facilities for shelters and food service C. Provides a means for employees to make charitable contributions to key organizations D. Sends employee volunteers to disaster locations posted on its global volunteering initiative

43. Summary • Let's review some key points discussed in this topic. • There are various types of emergencies and disasters that occur each day all across the world. They impact individuals, communities, and countries in many ways. • During disasters, there are both obvious and not-so-obvious consequences. People need food, clothing, shelter, and drinking water. Often, roads are closed, there are power outages, and businesses are closed or destroyed, resulting in loss of jobs. • Governmental and non-governmental organizations, such as the International Red Cross and Red Crescent societies, Save the Children, CARE, and others operate in practically every country to help restore communities and lives affected by disaster. • Corporations such as IBM offer assistance after disasters to help with response and recovery.

44. Lesson 5 – Call to action

45. What you will learn • This lesson showcases volunteers in action and the rewards of volunteering. • Lesson objectives • After completing this lesson, you should be able to: • Explore training and volunteer opportunities within various government agencies or NGOs • Identify the next steps to begin disaster volunteering

46. Rewards of reaching out

47. Testimonials Volunteers who can perform physical labor or operate construction equipment are often vital to a response and recovery effort. Also, you may have skills you have acquired in the workplace that you don't realize could be put to use. "Education for kids is crucial in speeding recovery from such a big disaster. As the kids grow up, they will take ownership of the future recovery, so providing STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) educational activities to the disaster-affected areas is a must," says Kaori Namba. Read more about the efforts in which Kaori Namba was involved. An outbreak of Dengue Fever in Tainan City, Taiwan, prompted seven IBM volunteers to use their big data and analytics skills to help address this critical public health issue. "Together, we built a strong partnership and commitment towards the mission of finding insights through data analysis," says Claire Lin. Read more about Claire Lin and her team of volunteers. “Hard times can sometimes give birth to an amazing moment,” says Nesrien Redwan,. She and a team of 50 volunteers developed and provided German language training for some refugee students to help narrow the cultural gap they faced. “I believe that understanding the language of the country you live in, opens up many doors and provides self-confidence,” she says. Read more about Nesrien Redwan and her team of volunteers.

48. Testimonials – Kaori Namba Read more about the efforts in which Kaori Namba was involved. On March 11, 2011, a magnitude 9.0 undersea megathrust earthquake hit the east coast of Japan. It was the fourth most powerful earthquake in the world since recordkeeping began. Referred to in Japan as the "Great East Japan earthquake," the shaking and subsequent 133-foot high tsunami left the country devastated, with more than 4.4 million households without electricity and 1.5 million without water. Individual IBMers in Japan sprang into action, forming Team Tasuki to coordinate the application of their individual talents and skills to the recovery effort. Each volunteer member of Team Tasuki supported a particular relief or civic organization, and regularly reported back to the full team to generate additional thinking and collaborate on how to address problems. The approach allowed the team to work on a range of issues. Akihito Imoto, a co-founder of Team Tasuki and an IBM project manager, puts it this way: "I wanted to help restore the affected area to its former state, so that people who lived there could come back to their own homes as soon as possible. Each team member has his own, but similar aspiration, and I knew together we could inspire each other to continue this important work." People know their skills are valuable at work but don't typically realize that those same skills can be applied to disaster relief work or other volunteering opportunities.Read more about how these IBMers applied their job skills to volunteer work.

49. Testimonials – Claire Lin Read more about Claire Lin and her team of volunteers. On their own time, the team began "sorting out the unstructured data and performing the data cleanup for further analytics," reported Ms. Lin. They then used IBM SPSS Modeler to perform the data analysis needed to assess whether spraying insecticide would deter the spread of the disease. The team concluded that weather patterns, combined with spraying, could help control the outbreak. "When we first presented our findings to Tainan City, IBM summarized five key findings, but perhaps the most important point was that using this opportunity, we helped Tainan City to understand the power of analysis and revisit their policy and proposal of collecting data not only for Dengue Fever but for other pandemic diseases. It makes me proud I can contribute to my country,” said Ms. Lin.Read more about how these IBMers applied their job skills to volunteer work.

50. Testimonials – Nesrien Redwan Read more about Nesrien Redwan and her team of volunteers. Several European countries have been grappling with a rapid and overwhelming influx of refugees and immigrants seeking better and safer living conditions. Among the many challenges, being a refugee wreaks havoc on a young person’s education, especially when there’s a language barrier. Austria’s capital city, Vienna, found itself needing to place hundreds of new refugee students into schools, despite the lack of local language proficiency by many of the pupils. In 2015, Nesrien Redwan developed an idea to provide German language training for some of the students. Despite not being experienced language teachers, Nesrien believed she and fellow IBM volunteers did have the expertise to organize, manage and lead a program to help the new students—she also recognized that the IBM team could help narrow the cultural gap some of the students might face. The IBM team formed a partnership with “Teach for Austria,” an organization that prepares teachers to work with disadvantaged children and students, to help build and support the language curriculum. The third vital partnership was enlisting the help of fellow IBMers. “I did not need to do anything to encourage other IBM volunteers to participate in this project,” says Nesrien. “They were already queuing up before it started. For me, these were those amazing moments in hard times.” Read more about how these volunteers provide language training for refugee and immigrant students in Austria.