Before you help the victims of devastating hurricanes, earthquakes, famines and floods, follow these five tips.

1: Send Money, Not Stuff
Charitable organizations receive so many boxes of used clothing, shoes, canned food and flashlights that it overwhelms local staff and creates what some relief workers call the "disaster after the disaster."

2: Give to Local Organizations
It's easy to text $10 to the American Red Cross or the United Way, but national or international organizations aren't automatically the best-equipped to help local populations. In some cases, local groups with deep roots in the affected community have a better understanding of how to meet the immediate and long-term needs of their people.

3: Volunteer Here, Not There
Trained and skilled volunteers are critical in a time of crisis. They staff emergency shelters, distribute food and water, and even search for stranded survivors. But untrained, unskilled volunteers can actually be a liability after a disaster, especially if they're traveling from overseas.

4.  Think Long-term 

According to a 2016 report from the Center for Disaster Philanthropy (CDP), 73 percent of disaster-related donations in 2013 -- from large charitable foundations, corporations, government agencies and online giving -- was spent on immediate disaster response and relief. That's because the intense media coverage surrounding disasters like hurricanes spurs people and foundations to give. But once the TV cameras leave town, donations dry up.

5. Keep Charities Accountable 

Even the American Red Cross (ARC) has had its struggles. Although it raised nearly a half-billion dollars following the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, an investigation by ProPublica and NPR revealed that the organization's efforts in Haiti were largely a failure. For its part, the ARC defends its work in Haiti, which helped fund 100 projects run by other nonprofits and NGOs.

That doesn't mean you should avoid donating to the ARC. The point is that just because an organization has a national profile doesn't excuse them from being accountable.

Read the full article about donation tips that help disaster victims by Dave Roos at How Stuff Works.