CITY OF KILLEEN EMERGENCY MANAGEMEMT FUND
PURPOSE
The Emergency Management Fund (E.M.F.) has been established to support evacuees seeking refuge from Hurricane Katrina (from the states of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama). These funds will be used 100% to directly benefit those seeking shelter, aid, and assistance due to Hurricane Katrina. Funds will be used to provide shelter, transportation, food, and life essentials. We wish to help evacuees establish a sense of normalcy under safe, secure, and clean living conditions. The funds will be managed by City of Killeen Finance staff and will be accounted for separately from all other City funds. Funds donated to the City of Killeen E.M.F. are a tax-deductible contribution
Funds can be donated at:
Killeen City Hall, 101 North College
Permits & Inspections Counter - 2nd Floor or Accounting 3 rd Floor
Utility Collections, Municipal Annex, Ave D. (Night Drop)
Fire Stations (via pre-addressed envelopes available at each station)
Mail to: City of Killeen E.M.F., Attn: R. Lacer, P.O. Box 1329, Killeen, TX 76540
COMMUNITY GENEROSITY
The worst moments often bring out the best in people. Disasters such as hurricanes, floods, and earthquakes often ignite an outpouring of generosity from individuals and communities who are moved to assist those whose lives have been affected. The images of devastation prompt many to respond by donating goods for the victims. Donations of goods and services, also known as in-kind donations, can be valuable resources on a relief effort. However, misguided in-kind donations can also have the effect of hampering the relief effort if inappropriate or excessive contributions arriving at the disaster site impede the distribution of priority items. The attached list of needed items is intended to provide you with some information about the most effective ways to help in this time of need. An important first step when thinking about donating goods to any relief is to ascertain whether they have a need, or the means, to accept your donation. MONEY MATTERS
Financial donations to the City of Killeen are the best way to assist the City of Killeen Emergency Management Fund . Monetary contributions enable the City to purchase the most urgently needed items to assist the evacuees seeking aid in our shelter. Purchasing supplies allows us to get to victims as quickly as possible, without delays and hefty transportation costs. Local procurement also ensures that the items distributed to disaster victims are appropriate for their culture and diet. COLLECTIONS OF GOODS AND INDIVIDUAL ITEMS
Individual donations of goods and collections of items will be put to their best possible use, and have the greatest impact economically, when they are donated to local charitable organizations within the community. Donating locally eliminates transportation costs and ensures workers are free to perform priority relief support. Because these local agencies are not operating in the crisis environment that characterizes disaster relief, the charity will have the time sort, clean, and repair goods and identify how and where they can be most beneficial. If your company has a large bulk donation that you think would be appropriate for The City of Killeen E.M.F. relief effort, please contact Rana Lacer @ (254) 501-7747.
MEDICAL EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES
The City of Killeen will route donations of medical equipment or supplies to the appropriate community agencies if the product meets a need of the relief program. All donated medications must be at least one-year away from their expiration date. Medications that have been issued to patients but that have not been used, and free samples provided to health care professionals, cannot be accepted for donation as their quality cannot be guaranteed. In addition, returned drugs are very difficult to manage at the receiving end because of packaging issues and the small quantities involved. If you are a company interested in making a donation of medical supplies, services, or equipment, please contact Rana Lacer @ (254) 501-7747 or the agencies listed on the attached needs list.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT DONATIONS
Before beginning any sort of collection drive, it is important to first call a charitable agency and confirm that there is a need for the donation and that they are able to accept it. Several organizations active in disaster relief have published guidelines that offer practical advice on steps that should be taken prior to starting a collection drive or purchasing items to donate to disaster relief.
* Much of the information contained in this briefing is courtesy of the American Red Cross.
