Interest Grows in Training to Prepare for a Disaster (1/2)

We talked last week about MercyCorps, a nonprofit group that provides emergency services after disasters. Another organization involved in this kind of work is Catholic Relief Services, based in Baltimore, Maryland.

This is the official international relief and development agency of the United States Catholic community. It was started in 1943. Today it operates in 98 countries. Catholic Relief Services has a budget" class="hjdict" word="budget" target=_blank>budget for this year of around 600 million dollars. CRS gets a lot of its money from the United States government but also from individuals and other donors.

The American Institute of Philanthropy rates it among the top American groups for international relief and development work. CRS gets a rating of A-plus. (Mercy Corps gets an A, also a top rating.) Catholic Relief Services is a faith-based organization but says it employs and helps people of all religions.

In addition to providing aid after disasters, CRS is training people to prepare before a disaster strikes. It provides emergencypreparedness training around the world.