The Robert Goodis Foundation

Natural and man-made disasters wreak havoc on all societies.  From wars and terrorist bombings to cyclones, hurricanes, earthquakes and floods, nobody is safe.

But that does not mean nothing can be done.

Consider the following information on these catastrophes:

Wars:  According to mid-2009 estimates, the War in Iraq has claimed 1,339,711 lives and cost the victims an unknown financial expense for repair and recovery.  That number is separate from the deaths caused by the War on Terrorism.

War in western Sudan has claimed an estimated 300,000 to 400,000 lives since 2003 and has destroyed entire villages and communities.  After 54 years of ongoing civil war and conflict, South Sudan has officially received independence from the Republic of the Sudan (as of 19 September 2009), though conflict and tensions persist.  It is estimated that the Sudanese North-South civil wars since 1955 have killed 2.4 million people - most of whom were civilians.

Hurricane Katrina and the flooding of New Orleans (2005):  This storm affected the United States, the Bahamas and Cuba.  In the United States alone, the death toll is estimated at 1836 persons, while more than 700 additional people remain missing.  Damages recorded in the USA are in excess of $90-Billion.

Cyclone Nargis (2008): This very severe cyclonic storm primarily affected areas of Bangladesh, Burma (Myanmar), India and Sri Lanka.  "On aid worker claimed that the death toll from the cyclone and its aftermath might reach 300,000; if correct, Nargis would be the 2nd deadliest cyclone ever, and the fifth deadliest natural disaster of the 20th century," (Wikipedia).  Recent damage estimates from the storm exceed $10-Billion.

The Indian Ocean Earthquake and Tsunami (2004): A 9.3 undersea earthquake and the tsunami it triggered a day after Christmas in 2004 caused an estimated 230,000 deaths in eleven countries.

Sumatra (Indonesia) Earthquake:  The quake that occurred on September 30, 2009, killed an estimated 715-1,100 people in Indonesia.  As of October 2nd, an estimated 3000 people remain missing.  Hospitals, schools, and entire communities collapsed into rubble.  Though Indonesia is known for its devastating quakes, the country lacks regulations on infrastructure engineering that could help prevent such devastating collapses of buildings.  As with most natural disasters, the survivors have struggled to find food, water, and shelter since the chaos struck (Bloomberg News).

Natural Disasters: Thinking Beyond Immediate Response, a special commentary by the Brookings Institution gives some great insight on policy surrounding natural disasters and how the international community can best respond to these events.  This important discussion reminds us all that immediate response, while a necessary and significant effort, is not the only important action we can take.

Even years after Hurricane Katrina and the flooding of New Orleans, the Big Easy is still not back to its former glory.  The same is true of every crisis - natural or not.  Rebuilding and restoring take time.  Ensuring food and medical supplies is an obligation that can not be determined by a clock or calendar.

The Robert Goodis Foundation is in the process of evaluating and developing response and prevention tactics to help reduce loss-of-life and improve living conditions in the immediate aftermath of these disasters.  Stay tuned for future updates.

In the meanwhile, please consider visiting and supporting some of our affiliates, such as the Red Cross, in their disaster prevention and relief efforts.