NPR, "All Things Considered" @ Sichuan Earthquake, updated

The NPR Radio News crew, "All Things Considered" (with familiar names like Robert Siegel, Melissa Block, Andrea Hsu, etc.) were already at Chengdu (near the epicenter) producing a series for next week about the lives of everyday life in mainland China when the 7.9 Richter Earthquake hit. For a first account of the earthquake, check out their Chengdu blog page. Includes an interview interrupt by the earthquake. By looking at earlier entries in the blog, it looked like a very good series that will be pre-empted by disaster.

NPR Chengdu Blog

Update May/16/2008: A heartbreaking story filed by Melissa Block, the audio is even more heartbreaking.

Where to Donate, see network for good for the latest update.

• AmeriCares
• Direct Relief International
• Doctors Without Borders
• International Federation of Red Cross/Red Crescent
• Save the Children
• UNICEF
• New charities involved in China, 5/16/2008 (not a comprehensive list, for that, see here and here)
  
• Tzu Chi
  
• International Orthodox Christian Charities
• World Vision
• U.S. Fund for UNICEF
• American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee

It looks like from New York Times that China is allowing certain foreign relief teams to directly participate in relief operations. The article mentions Tzu Chi, certain Russian, South Korean, and Japanese teams. I'm personally familar with Tzu Chi's volunteer work here in the San Francisco Bay Area, and relief work overseas. Its Taiwanese manufacturing/business/organizational energy transformed to compassionate relief work is pretty impressive (these guys make fleece blankets out of recycled plastic bottles). Good luck to all volunteers of all NGOs out there!

Emergency Preparedness Primer

The San Francisco Office of Emergency Services has come out with a very good website on how to determine whether or not you are prepared for a big Earthquake or other calamities --Like 3 gallons of drinking water per family member. More likely than not, you are going to realize how unprepared you are. Good info to go over, and a well designed site.... link

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In case of earthquakes and big waves, breakdance.