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AMTA has received several inquiries from members regarding Massage Emergency
Response Team (MERT) response to the devastation of hurricane Katrina.
The MERT program is chapter-based and is designed for state-based responses
only. Massage licensing laws prohibit therapists from traveling to and
practicing in other states under MERT. At this time, there is no MERT activity
in either Mississippi or Louisiana.
Federal and state authorities in the states affected are still evacuating
people from the stricken areas. They have advised that those who want to
provide aid not travel to the disaster areas at this time. In most of the areas
there is no food, water or shelter for additional volunteers. The Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has stated, “Volunteers should not report
directly to the affected areas unless directed by a voluntary agency.
Self-dispatched volunteers can put themselves and others in harm’s way and
hamper rescue efforts.”
AMTA has spoken with AMTA volunteer leaders in the affected states who concur
with this guidance and have said massage therapists traveling to the area at
this time would become burdensome, rather than be an assistance.
Please follow communications from authorities about if or when it might be
advised for volunteers from other areas to travel to the disaster zones.
www.fema.gov
AMTA also has received inquiries about coordination of relief efforts and
financial assistance for massage therapists and/or the public in the affected
areas.
The AMTA National Board of Directors and National Office staff understand this
desire to help with the situation in the disaster areas and are always impressed
by the compassion of AMTA members for those in need. The association
sympathizes with the spirit behind these feelings, but AMTA is a professional
association designed to build the massage therapy profession and promote the
massage therapy business interests of its members. We aren’t in a position as
an association to coordinate relief or fundraising efforts. We therefore
encourage members to respond to the disaster as they are moved to do so as
individuals. In particular, you may want to make a donation to relief agencies
and organizations such as the American Red Cross, which can legally accept
donations and have the wherewithal to use them to the greatest effect.
If
you wish to make a donation to the American Red Cross, you can do so at
www.redcross.org, by calling 800-HELP-NOW, or by mailing the contribution to
the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013.
AMTA is completing arrangements to accept donations to the Red Cross during the
upcoming AMTA National Convention in Albuquerque. Any money raised at
convention will help support relief efforts though the Red Cross.
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American Massage Therapy Association®
