Disasters leave millions reeling

Before donating, be sure to research charity first

It feels like in every direction, people are reeling from disaster.

Hurricane Irma has weakened into a tropical storm, yet it is still wreaking havoc across Florida and into Georgia. On Monday morning, more than 6.2 million homes and businesses were without power, and officials report it could take weeks before electricity was restored to everyone, the Associated Press reports.

Several islands in the Caribbean were devastated as well — Barbuda, Saint Martin, Anguilla, the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Cuba, the Dominican Republic and Haiti all had some degree of damage, with officials reporting that 95 percent of the buildings on Barbuda were destroyed.

And then there are the wildfires. Oregon, Montana, Idaho, Washington and California all struggled last week to contain blazes raging in their states. The National Interagency Fire Center said Saturday there were 67 active large wildfires being fought, according to the AP. And the complications run deeper than the fire itself, as the resulting smoke was causing air quality and breathing issues in the impacted regions.

And down in Mexico, an 8.1-magnitude earthquake struck off the country’s southern coast on Thursday. At least 95 people are confirmed dead, the majority in Oaxaca state. The quake struck in the middle of the night, collapsing buildings and homes while residents slept.

As the country scrambled to help the region, Hurricane Katia hit Mexico’s east coast Saturday morning, making landfall as a Category 1 storm.

Meanwhile, Texas is still reeling from Hurricane Harvey. Most of the students in Houston returned to school Monday, but officials are still dealing with the aftermath from the 50 inches of rain that Harvey dumped on the region.

It’s overwhelming to think about the need in these communities right now. One disaster is tough to comprehend … but to have earthquakes, wildfires and hurricanes happening all at once is a new level of challenges.

However, Yumans can help, and the best way right now is through monetary donations, which allow agencies to cover immediate needs.

Agencies such as the Red Cross, United Way and the Salvation Army are great starting points to help in the United States. Unicef and the International Red Cross are helpful starting points to help those in countries outside of America.

Or check with local newspapers’ websites in the areas hardest hit to see what organizations they recommend, in order to have the biggest impact.

However, before you donate, do some research on the organization and make sure that the funds will be used to help as you intended. CharityNavigator.org is a great resource to help you get started.

Together, let’s send some Yuma love to these areas most in need of it.

Years ago, when I was part of a group advocating for wheelchair access to local businesses in the town where I was living, a merchant told me, “Why should I take those steps out of my entrance, I never see any wheelchair people in my store.”

I was reminded of that incident when one of our supervisors was asking why we needed a sidewalk along North Frontage Road since he never sees anyone walking there anyway. Many people do walk along the stretch of road from 10E to Fortuna, even though it means navigating loose sand, rocks, ruts, and other obstacles. I hope that sidewalks and bike access of some sort are included in the project. Walking and riding along North Frontage Road as it is now is VERY dangerous.

The City of Yuma has many celebratory events each year. Lettuce Days, 4th of July, the Christmas Light parade, Military Appreciation Days, the welcome back events for our winter visitors etc. There are many more that I’m sure I will fail to mention so please forgive me.

Of course the biggest events that our great city is very proud of are, The Yuma County Fair, The Air Show, Midnight at the Oasis, the Rodeo and the Rodeo Parade, and Veterans Day and the Veterans Day Parade.

I am not involved with every event that is held in Yuma every year, but I can feel pretty comfortable speaking for everyone involved in any of these events, and say it takes many long days, and many mind boggling hours on a computer.

And there are never, ever, enough volunteers. When there is, they’re always the same few. What I am involved in is the Veterans Day Parade. When the Parade ends we start planning next year’s. We are in the final countdown mode for this year’s Parade. Veterans Day is Nov. 11th.

If your organization is planning to be in the Parade you must have your application on the managers desk at Post 19 on or before October 27th. We held our annual Veterans Day Parade meeting with all who are concerned, such as the City Police, YPG, etc. Contact has been made with the City, MCAS, the Chamber of Commerce, local business, etc. It was voted on and discussed to cut the total entrants in the Parade from 140 to 125.The applications will be processed on a first-come, firstserved basis. No exceptions will be made. The committee believes this will provide for a more efficient flow of, and better quality parade, for the enjoyment of the citizens and visitors of Yuma.

The next parade meeting will be held at Post 19 on the 20th of September at 6:30pm.and every two weeks thereafter. All those concerned are encouraged to attend. Phone 928-3443441. E-Mail -alpost19@hotmail.com. Thank you.

Approximately 10 years ago, the Lynnwood Subdivision off of 12th Street in between Avenue C and Avenue D began construction. At that time, the city talked about putting a traffic light at the Intersection of Avenue C and 12th Street to accommodate the increased traffic due to the increased number of residents living in that area. Since then, no traffic light has been put there.

Now, there is another subdivision being built off of 12th Street in between Avenue C and Avenue D. This will, of course, put more traffic at the intersection of Avenue C and 12th Street. In addition, there are six schools within a half mile radius of that intersection: Salida Del Sol, Rancho Viejo, H.L.S., Desert View, Cibola, and YPIC which causes a lot of pedestrian and vehicle traffic at that intersection. Can the city please put in a traffic light at the Intersection of Avenue C and 12th Street before there is a fatal accident there?

Thank you,