Hands On Disaster Response: Project Sungai Geringging Salvage Kits

why it's important:

I first became involved with Hands On Disaster Response as an intern in the summer of 2008. After meeting volunteers and staff members of the organization, who truly felt like one large family, I was inspired to join them on a deployment to help people affected by severe natural disasters. In early October, news of the two major earthquakes in Sumatra traveled quickly to the United States and around the world. Though with many disasters it may seem difficult to become involved in the recovery from another part of the world, Hands On quickly sent an assessment team and shortly after announced the start of project Sungai Geringging. Without a moments hesitation I quit my job and bought a plane ticket to Indonesia.

I arrived in Indonesia on November 4th, over a month after the earthquakes. Still, the destruction was abundant and many families were sleeping in tents pitched next to their collapsed homes. I formed a strong bond, not only with my fellow volunteers, but with the local community. The people of Sungai Geringging are some of the nicest and friendliest people I've met. When you are working at someone's home and are able to recover not only materials for them to rebuild, but personal mementos lost underneath the rubble, you can see the difference you are making in their lives. Here strangers have become friends and friends have become family.

the plan of action:

Since October 25th, 2009 volunteers from 11 countries have been working in Sungai Geringging, Indonesia to help families recover from the earthquakes. Though many of the houses were destroyed to the point where they must be fully removed before a new home can be built, the materials and labor necessary to do so are too expensive for many. By sending salvage teams to those homes to recover materials from existing structures, volunteers are able to save, on average, twenty percent of the materials necessary to build a new house. This is the equivalent of two month's household income, allowing many families with limited means to rebuild.

The amount of materials that salvage teams are able to recover is directly correlated with their access to specific tools used to break up corrugated tin roofs, separate rocks and bricks from their mortar, and safely remove rubble and materials. By creating salvage kits, or packs of tools specifically compiled to make the teams more effective, we are able to not only help more families begin the recovery process, but also help them to save more resources. Many of these tools can be bought in the local market, putting more money into the local economy, though some specialty tools must be purchased in the US or larger cities.

how you can get involved:

To learn more about volunteering with Hands On Disaster Response or to make a donation visit HODR.org

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