Help for Haiti: Local Red Cross offers Soldiers resources

By Leader Staff ReportJanuary 21, 2010

FORT JACKSON, S.C. -- For more than a week, the world has watched as Haiti begins its recovery in the wake of a devastating earthquake.

Here at Fort Jackson, on-post leaders are doing what they can to keep any Soldiers with family members affected by the 7.0 magnitude earthquake informed.

Jo An Miller, with the Fort Jackson Red Cross, said several steps are being taken internationally that can help local Soldiers.

Those searching for family members in Haiti can check the database of names on the International Committee of the Red Cross' Family Links Web site at www.icrc.org/familylinks.

Family members inquiring about Americans who were in Haiti during the earthquake can contact the Department of State's Office of Overseas Civilian Services at 888-407-4747. For more, see www.state.gov.

Disaster and International Services is currently not deploying American Red Cross personnel to Haiti. Red Cross volunteers interested in deploying to Haiti should check for updates on CrossNet, https://crossnet.redcross.org, or their local chapters. All volunteers and employees in the American Red Cross are eligible to log on to CrossNet, the American Red Cross secure national Web site.

Though volunteers are not currently needed on the ground in Haiti, there are still options to help in other ways. Task Force Marshall and Fort Jackson American Red Cross are partnering in a postwide Haiti Disaster Relief Fundraiser.

Checks and money orders made out to American Red Cross Haiti Disaster Relief can be taken to the Red Cross office, 2464 Anderson St., Suite 12. Call 751-4329. All donations will be used directly to assist the relief operation in Haiti.

ONLINE DONATION SCAMS

Network Enterprise Center

FORT JACKSON, S.C. -- Be careful when evaluating donation programs related to the earthquake in Haiti because e-mail scams are beginning to circulate.

Please be on the lookout for e-mails soliciting support for contributions, even if they appear to be from legitimate humanitarian organizations. Such e-mails, or even chain letters, implore people to send money for something that turns out to be a bogus reason.

Though many recipients of these types of e-mails immediately dismiss their validity, it is easier to fall prey to them, when they are linked to events, such as a natural disaster.

These scam e-mails sometimes even use the real address - or a similar, legitimate-sounding address - of the organizations soliciting money for relief efforts. However, any donations sent using instructions provided in these e-mails will not help anyone in Haiti.

From a cyber-security perspective, computer users can also be tricked into visiting other harmful web sites seeded with fake antivirus applications. Once on these sites, users can actually experience more security vulnerabilities by installing these harmful programs.

Here are a few helpful hints for you to consider:

-- Avoid searching "Haiti relief" in online search engines.

-- Apply a "critical eye" to any requests for financial donations to assist in Haiti relief efforts, especially those that are unsolicited.

-- Make contributions directly to known organizations rather than relying on others to make the donation on your behalf. This process ensures contributions are received and used for intended purposes.

Refer questions, concerns, or inquiries regarding network security to Troy Wahr at 751-7370.