STAFF ED: Natural disasters create need for volunteer help

The past six months have highlighted the destructive force of nature. From the Japanese earthquake and tsunami, rampant tornadoes in the American South and the Midwest flooding, 2011 has been a perfect storm ­— to borrow a cliche.

Media coverage is faster than ever, increasing public awareness of events. The world isn't so much suffering greater disasters as humans are becoming more aware of international events, leading to cyclical reporting that rouses interest before jumping to a new topic.

But unprecedented coverage of climate-caused disasters does more than briefly stir interest — it allows the public to know what it can do to help.

Such is the case in the recent flooding. Though water levels for the Missouri River have reportedly crested, there are still ways to help out locally.

There are ongoing sandbagging efforts in Nebraska, Iowa and South Dakota. Council Bluffs, Iowa, now has a Facebook page for flood volunteers, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers claims to have used almost 5 million sandbags in and around Omaha.

If you can't find some way to donate and help from afar, the proximity of the relief effort gives you the ability to help out.

So instead of watching on TV at home, get out and do some good this summer.

opinion@dailynebraskan.com