Jaunted

Volunteer Travel / Disaster Travel / Joplin / → All Tags

Joplin, MO Still Needs Volunteers to Help with Tornado Cleanup

Last week the Joplin, MO Convention and Visitors Bureau sparked controversy among residents of the tornado-ravaged town when they launched a new "Tornado Tourism" Map. Visitors can pick up the map, for free, at several local hotels and restaurants to find the best routes through the disaster zone.

The Visitor Bureau Director defended the map after residents called it "tacky" and "insensitive" saying, "We are not actively promoting the tornado, mainly, (the map) is a piece of information. Maybe people will have a reason to give, or put together a volunteer group because there's still a lot of work being done, or even come into town and buy something."

more ›

Volunteer Travel / Disaster Travel / Alabama Travel / Facebook / Twitter / Tornadoes / Weather Travel / → All Tags

Join Facebook, Twitter and the Red Cross in Helping Victims of Alabama's Tornadoes

After last month's devastating tornadoes in the south, volunteers from around the country are heading to the effected areas. If you want to help out as well, there are a few organizations still looking for help in Alabama:

· The American Red Cross has set up emergency shelters throughout the region. They’re also providing food, blood, emergency-response vehicles and other relief supplies. You can find out about volunteer opportunities at RedCross.org or by visiting your local Red Cross office.

more ›

Queensland Travel / Australia Travel / Disaster Travel / Weather / Travel Deals / Qantas / Airfare Sales / → All Tags

Make Lemons Into Lemonade: This is the Time to Visit Flood-Free Areas of Queensland, Australia

Flooding has really hampered tourism in Queensland, Australia. But not the actual floods. Although it was one of the continent's worst natural disasters, none of the main tourism spots—including Cairns, Port Douglas, the Whitsundays, the Sunshine Coast and the Gold Coast—were affected by the floods, which occurred more than 620 miles away.

And while tourism officials tried to let travelers know they were open for business, tourists canceled trips Down Under en masse. That means now's the time to book that trip to Australia you've been meaning to take.

more ›

Volunteer Travel / Disaster Travel / Australia Travel / Queensland Travel / Voluntourism / → All Tags

Queensland Looking for Voluntourists to Help with Flood Relief

In the wake of the devastating floods that have impacted dozens of communities in Australia, including the city of Brisbane, the country's third largest city, Queensland has put out a call for voluntourists who would be willing to help with the clean up.

So far, there has been a great response from volunteers around the world, but it will take months before Queensland is back on its feet. If you're game to go Down Under and lend a hand, here's how to get involved:

more ›

Volunteer Travel / Disaster Travel / Chile Travel / → All Tags

The Best Way to Help Chile Recover Is to Travel There

Chile has done such a good job with recovery after the February 27th earthquake, that destroyed more than half a million homes, that they have requested little help from the rest of the world. But, that doesn’t mean there aren’t volunteer and travel opportunities still available within the country.

If you want to volunteer in Chile, there are several established agencies that are always looking for volunteers to work with societies most vulnerable, children and the elderly. One of these organizations, Escuela Fronteras, accepts Spanish-speaking volunteers for one or two months of volunteering in orphanages, teaching English or working with charity groups that help those in need throughout Chile. Escuela Fronteras will match you with the right opportunity based on your interests, what you want to experience while you’re there, when you can travel and how much you can afford to spend. You can get started planning your trips at Efronteras.com/volunteer.

more ›

Disaster Travel / Philippines / Philippines Travel / Disasters / → All Tags

Lava Spews From Mount Mayon in the Philippines

Already battered by typhoons in recent months, it doesn't appear that Mother Nature is easing up on the Philippines, a destination that holds a special place for those of us who have traveled there in recent years. On our last trip, we had the opportunity to trek up an active volcano on horseback, but even the most adventurous of tourists will have to abstain from getting close to Mount Mayon, which is currently spewing lava "half a kilometer downslope," according to a report from The Philippine Star.

Located on Luzon, the largest of the Philippines' 7,000-plus islands, Mayon's seismic activity has triggered "43 volcanic quakes" in recent days, says Business Mirror online. Suffice to say, now is not optimal for visiting the area, though the holidays are a particularly popular time of year for tourists and Philippine expats to travel there.

more ›

MAD / Disaster Travel / Spanair / → All Tags

Dangerous Travel: Spanair Crash Kills at Least 45 in Madrid

A Spanair MD-82 bound for the Canary Islands skidded off a runway and caught fire at Madrid's Barajas Airport, leading to reports that only 25 of the 173 people on board survived.

Flight 5022 (also listed as Lufthansa 255) reportedly suffered an engine fire around 5 pm local time while attempting an emergency landing on Runway 6, immediately after takeoff. Despite the efforts of 11 emergency vehicles, on the scene reports are putting the death toll at around 150--though only 45 fatalities have been confirmed as of now.

It's the worst fatal airplane crash in Spain since a 1985 incident in Bilbao. Prime minister Jose Luis Zapatero has been called to the scene from his vacation in Doñana National Park in Andalusia.

Related Stories:
· At Least 45 Dead in Madrid Plane Crash [AP]
· Dozens of Dead Following Crash upon Takeoff at Barajas [El Pais, in Spanish]

[Photo of a Spanair MD-82: thomasbecker]