Contact:
Fred Whiting
Points of Light Foundation
(202) 729-8177
fwhiting@pointsoflight.org

Weather Experts Predict Above-Average Hurricane Season

Web site identifies volunteers before next disaster

WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 13, 2007) - Experts at the National Weather Service are projecting a 75 percent chance that the Atlantic Hurricane Season will be above-normal this year, showing the ongoing active hurricane era remains strong.

"Those who lived through the 2005 hurricane season know the value of volunteers during times of disaster," says Jonathan Gibbs, director of 1-800-Volunteer.org, a service of the Points of Light Foundation & Volunteer Center National Network.

"Whether it involves preparing homes to withstand hurricanes, cleaning up after flooding or rebuilding destroyed homes, volunteers can help victims recover from a disaster.  However," adds Gibbs, "untrained volunteers often show up at the disaster area unprepared and create a 'disaster within a disaster.'  They can hinder the recovery effort and put an additional strain on the limited resources available to aid the victims. 

"That is why HelpinDisaster.org was created.  HelpinDisaster.org is the first national initiative to pre-register, affiliate and inform volunteers who would like to assist in times of disaster – allowing organizations within the disaster area to match skilled volunteers with local needs."   

During the 2005 hurricane season, organizations and Volunteer Centers in the Gulf States were able to manage the huge number of volunteers who wanted to help by using HelpinDisaster.org and 1-800-Volunteer, a toll-free phone number, allowing Volunteer Centers to drive interested volunteers to the Web to register, freeing up local phone lines. 

HelpinDisaster.org is part of an online, community-based volunteer network designed by and built for Volunteer Centers by the Points of Light Foundation.  The system is used in 38 states by more than 175 Volunteer Centers and nearly 30,000 organizations that can access nearly 200,000 registered volunteers. 

"During Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, more than 5,000 volunteers were activated and contacted using the HelpinDisaster.org technology and volunteer network," Gibbs says.  "As the awareness of the system has grown, more and more volunteers are registering and getting involved in preparation activities today." 

Volunteers can call 1-800-Volunteer or go to www.HelpinDisaster.org and identify volunteer opportunities in their community.  Volunteer Managers can use the system to post, manage and track volunteer projects - including preparing and organizing volunteers during emergency or disaster situations. 

###