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Jordan DiMarco is a trained profession in disaster preparedness and disaster animal response. She offers tips to people looking to help with recovery relief for the Marshall fire.
Things to keep in mind in the coming days and weeks:
- Do not self-deploy. Everyone feels helpless, everyone has the best intentions. However, self-deployment can interfere with first responders and rescue personnel. In addition, it can impede traffic and rescue vehicles. Don't make yourself something rescue personnel have to worry about.
- Animals will be scared and in flight-or-flight mode. If you come across an animal, make sure you are skilled in bite prevention. Yes, even your pets will bite you. This goes double if the animal is ill or injured. If you are not trained in animal rescue, divert to those who are.
- If you find an animal, take it to the shelter where they can scan for a microchip. then post on social media afterward. The shelter will have coordinated resources to reunite owners. People have a hard time combing through hundreds of posts to find their pets that might be in private homes. In addition, there will be at least one person on social media asking if they can have the pet if the owners aren't found.
- Post your offers of help (food/shelter/clothing/volunteer etc) and then wait to be called upon to coordinate.
- Donation centers will be overwhelmed with people's outpouring. People have the best of intentions, but is becomes overwhelming and will end up in the landfill. Post about what you have to give and wait.
- If you have been evacuated, do not try to go back until cleared by emergency personnel. When you are allowed back, take lots of pictures. The paperwork will be massive.
- GoFundMes will be popping up left and right. Some of them are scams. Donate locally to legitimate organizations. Boulder Office of Emergency Management is fielding donations currently. In the coming weeks help will be needed in local nonprofits.
- Beware of business scams as well. Builders, roofers, contractors and inspectors will come out in droves. Some are legit. Most everything will be negotiated with your insurance, so follow their recommendations. Keep your receipts.
- Make sure to practice self-care. Try not to doom scroll. Accept offers of help from friends and family in any form; meals, childcare or phone calls, to name a few. Tell people how they can help. When people say let us know how they can help, be specific. This is our community.
