Hance Scarborough, LLP’s Post

Beware of fraud and scams. After a disaster there are often scams and rumors that target survivors. Please use official local, state and federal sources for credible information. Survivors should never trust someone claiming to be a disaster assistance employee asking for money. Local and federal disaster assistance workers do not solicit or accept money. #HurricaneHelene #HurricaneMilton #Fraud #Misinformation #DisasterRecovery #Nonprofit

🚨 Beware of Post-Hurricane Scams After Hurricane Helene 🚨 As communities begin to rebuild after Hurricane Helene, scammers are unfortunately also making their move. From fake charities to contractor fraud, these criminals prey on vulnerable individuals during times of crisis. 🛑 Here’s what you need to watch out for: 🔹 Fake Charity Scams - Always verify organizations before donating. 🔹 Contractor Fraud - Verify licenses, don’t pay upfront, and get everything in writing. 🔹 FEMA Impersonators - FEMA never charges for its services, so be cautious of unsolicited calls asking for money or personal info. 🌩️ Why It Matters: When disaster strikes, these scams can add insult to injury by causing financial loss and emotional distress. Protect yourself and your community by staying informed. 🔐 How to Protect Yourself: Research before donating (use Charity Navigator or the BBB). Verify contractors by checking their credentials. Be cautious of unsolicited requests for personal information. 🛡️ Share this post to spread awareness and help protect those recovering from Hurricane Helene! Full article: https://lnkd.in/ePnUFK8x #HurricaneHelene #DisasterRecovery #ScamAlert #StayVigilant #CommunityFirst #PostDisasterScams

🚨 Beware of Post-Hurricane Scams After Hurricane Helene 🚨 As communities begin to rebuild after Hurricane Helene, scammers are unfortunately also making their move. From fake charities to contractor fraud, these criminals prey on vulnerable individuals during times of crisis. 🛑 Here’s what you need to watch out for: 🔹 Fake Charity Scams - Always verify organizations before donating. 🔹 Contractor Fraud - Verify licenses, don’t pay upfront, and get everything in writing. 🔹 FEMA Impersonators - FEMA never charges for its services, so be cautious of unsolicited calls asking for money or personal info. 🌩️ Why It Matters: When disaster strikes, these scams can add insult to injury by causing financial loss and emotional distress. Protect yourself and your community by staying informed. 🔐 How to Protect Yourself: Research before donating (use Charity Navigator or the BBB). Verify contractors by checking their credentials. Be cautious of unsolicited requests for personal information. 🛡️ Share this post to spread awareness and help protect those recovering from Hurricane Helene! Full article: https://lnkd.in/eCCReNcG #HurricaneHelene #DisasterRecovery #ScamAlert #StayVigilant #CommunityFirst #PostDisasterScams

🚨UNDERSTANDING THE 3️⃣ PHASES OF A DISASTER 🦺 Most disasters have three distinct, sometimes overlapping phases: Rescue, Relief and Recovery. Understanding each phase will help you give the right support at the right time. 🛟 PHASE 1️⃣: RESCUE 🛟 The Rescue phase is typically up to two weeks long and the focus is on saving lives and securing property. This work is generally done by the police, fire departments and other government agencies. These groups have equipment that can clear roads and debris and restore power. They also maintain specialized systems for mass distribution and storage. During the Rescue phase, donate money instead of items and do not self-deploy because doing this often adds more stress to the community. https://lnkd.in/eQvGGU3u

Imagine you just lost your home to the most devastating flood in the country’s history and have to move into a shelter. Now imagine the woman and children begin to be sexually assaulted in these shelters… “Persistent rains and destructive flooding continue to wreak havoc in Brazil, with officials saying rising river levels signal further damage in the Rio Grande do Sul region. As of Tuesday, 149 people were confirmed dead in the flood-stricken southern state, with 124 individuals still unaccounted for, according to civil defense officials. More than 600,000 people have been displaced from their homes, with approximately 155,000 of those homes being destroyed, officials said.” - Source ABC News Shelters to accomodate the displaced people were quickly setup, however reports of sexually assaults against women and children at some of these shelters started being reported and some serious Non-For-Profit organisations quickly acted. WOMEN AND CHILDREN ONLY SHELTERS have been setup to provide a safe environment free from abuse. These shelters currently are housing hundreds of women and children, and will need long term financial support since many of the people in these shelters don’t have a home to go back to anymore. Please donate via the GoFundMe page below. I will be personally redirecting fund directly to these shelters. Also, please share with your network to reach as many people as possible. https://gofund.me/4f81c071

𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 🕵️ As Hurricane Milton approaches, it’s crucial to be aware of potential scams. Scammers often exploit the situation to trick generous individuals into donating to fake charities. Be cautious of emails and social media messages asking for help—if they contain suspicious links, don’t engage! 💡 𝗧𝗶𝗽𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘆 𝗦𝗮𝗳𝗲: • Always verify the source before donating. • Look for trusted organizations like 𝗙𝗘𝗠𝗔 (Federal Emergency Management Agency) for real assistance. • Report any suspicious messages to local authorities. Stay vigilant and protect yourself from fraud during this critical time! 🚨 👉 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲: https://www.fema.gov/ #HurricaneMilton #ScamAlert #FEMA #FloridaStrong #CyberSafety #CharityFraud #StaySafeFlorida #DisasterPreparedness #ScamAwareness #FraudAwareness #CrisisManagement #ScamWatch #DisasterPreparedness #HelpResponsibly #SafetyFirst #EmergencyResponse #ScamSmart #CommunitySupport #DisasterReliefFund #AvoidScams #StayInformed #GivingBackSafely #TrustButVerify #PhishingScams #CrisisResponse #StayAlert #LegitimateCharities #ProtectYourWallet #SmartDonations

Research consistently shows family violence increases in the wake of natural disasters, and #HurricaneBeryl seems to be no exception. During natural disasters and the days following, #DomesticViolence survivors can be trapped inside the home with abusers due to outages and road inaccessibility, making it even more difficult for survivors to seek and access support services and resources. The increase in natural disasters in Houston means a greater need for services, awareness, education, and, ultimately, funding. Support survivors: hawc.org/donate #Beryl #SafetyPlanning #HAWC

The Greater Houston Disaster Alliance has established the Severe Weather and Derecho Recovery Fund to support individuals and families affected by the severe storms, derecho winds, tornadoes, and flooding events that occurred between April 26 and May 17, 2024. Donate here: https://lnkd.in/gfFH-y_a On May 18, 2024, President Joe Biden approved a Major Disaster Declaration for these combined events impacting multiple counties, including Harris and Montgomery counties, making federal assistance available to support local recovery efforts. The Fund will complement these efforts by providing funds to local nonprofits to provide emergency financial assistance, home repair, and assistance accessing resources services. The Severe Weather and Derecho Recovery Fund will serve uninsured and underinsured low-to-moderate income families (ALICE population) in the affected counties of Harris, Montgomery, and Waller, focusing on disproportionately impacted zip codes and vulnerable populations.

Flooding can affect a community in many different ways. Flooding can have extreme psychological effects on children and adults. Many people feel they have lost control of their lives and the security they feel in their homes has gone. As an independent charity, The National Flood Forum take the time to listen to the challenges individuals and communities face. Our priority is to enable people to take control of their own flooding concerns, but know they are being supported. Head to our website to discover all the ways that the National Flood Forum can support anyone affected by flooding, including pioneering a change with legislation around the topic - https://lnkd.in/eAjdYQja #TheNationalFloodForum #Flooding #FloodRisk #Floods #CommunitySupport

Interesting report here from ClaimGuard.org suggesting that Southern California is less prepared for natural disasters than any region in the country, with four of the larger counties (LA, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Orange) projected to spend $7 billion on disaster-related damages this year. While cost is a big reason for a lack of preparedness according to the report, being prepared not only saves lives. It also saves money! In fact, according to the Pew Charitable Trust, every $1 spent on mitigation and preparedness saves $6 in recovery costs.    No matter what, emergencies are going to happen. There’s no benefit in ignoring risks and hoping you can figure things out after disaster strikes. There are plenty of benefits to emergency preparedness, and it’s something federal and local governments should prioritize to prevent costly consequences. https://lnkd.in/ehrsbyEm