WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is urging people who want to help flood victims in the Midwest to make financial donations through voluntary organizations that are active in the ongoing disaster operations.

"As flood waters continue to impact states along the Mississippi River, Americans across the country want to offer aid to those displaced from their homes. Monetary donations to non-profit organizations responding to the disaster are the best choice for helping those affected by the flooding in the Midwest," said Carlos J. Castillo, assistant administrator of FEMA's Disaster Assistance Directorate. "Donations of money will allow agencies to purchase items that are most needed by disaster victims."

There is a new, easy way to provide financial support, donate time and skills or donate needed products. The National Donations Management Network is a web-based system where individuals and the private sector can offer their support online to the voluntary organizations that are actively engaged in the ongoing disaster.

FEMA works in partnership with the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NVOAD), the Aidmatrix Foundation and private sector partners to direct donation offers to voluntary agencies in need as they support the thousands of displaced victims. FEMA and Aidmatrix entered into a cooperative agreement, in 2006, to develop this donations management network. The Aidmatrix Foundation offers a way to connect private sector or individuals wanting to offer support on-line to the leading organizations in humanitarian relief.

The National Donations Management Network is located at www.fema.gov/donations. Visitors to this site have the option to direct their donation to national level voluntary agencies or directly to the affected Midwest; states such as Iowa, Indiana, Minnesota and Missouri are managing their own state portals.

For information on the voluntary agencies that play a vital role in disaster recovery, visit the NVOAD site at www.nvoad.org.

For more information on the overall response to the Midwest floods, visit www.fema.gov.

FEMA coordinates the federal government's role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.

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