When disaster strikes the whole world moves to help. Neighbors, friends, and families across all nations band together to strengthen countries in need. Humanity is natural when your human, and its the grounds for creating heroes, selfless beings sacrificing their personal time, money and emotions for the sake of a community that has lost everything. Now more than ever the world needs to support one another, to go and help, whether it's pulling survivors from wreckage, distributing food to refugees, or rebuilding a house that was swept away.
Getting involved in disaster relief is easier than you think. RedCross.org offers free training to anyone who wants to be certified for any situation, from disaster response to first aid. They will offer the tools you need to get started, we can help with getting you packed and ready to go.
There are three things you need to consider when packing for disaster relief. The first is environment. What kind of weather are you going to expect? WeatherReports.com is a good source for deciphering the average temperature and climate, as well as determining what it's going to be like when you arrive at your destination. Environmental issues also need to be considered before you go. What kind of a disaster was this? Volcanic eruptions will affect how many layers of clothing you need to bring, as well as burn resistance. Flooding will require breathable, easily dried layers. Areas affected by air strikes will require tougher, impact resistant clothing like leather jackets.
Next you need to consider how long you are going to stay. Pack a little more than your length of time, just in case you need to go through multiple pairs of clothes in a day. If you have access to laundry facilities, pack enough for 8 days, if it will be a while between washings, pack for 10.
The last thing to be considered is the type of labor you will be doing. Medical response, rescue, shelter support and reconstruction all require clothing you can easily move in, but the differences may mean jeans and khaki's, or sweaters and T-Shirts (If you are being sponsored by an organization they will probably provide specialized gear).
So how do you pack for something like this? First you are going to need a reliable backpack. TamperSeal.com recommends the Pacsafe Day Safe Secure Day Pack. It's lightweight yet roomy enough to hold a weeks worth of clothing and supplies, and it features a security system to ward off pickpockets and bag slashers. The bag is made of weather resistant 840 ballistic nylon. On the outside are three mesh pockets (one of which can be buckled) and two straps for a tent, sleeping bag or blanket. The inside has a main cavity with removable pack. This pack is expandable and contains a stainless steel drawstring that seals with padlock and key, keeping your items safe.
Other items you should bring:
