Recovering from disasters is never easy. When disasters pile up, it gets harder.

On top of the inevitable competition for everything from the government’s funding for recovery efforts to construction materials, donations for relief operations dry up as givers develop what’s known as “donor fatigue.” When donors have already supported other relief efforts, they may feel that they either can’t or don’t need to give again.

While the American Red Cross, a leading relief nonprofit, said it had raised US$350 million for Hurricane Harvey recovery efforts within a month, donations a month after Irma totaled only $56.4 million. Red Cross donations amounted to just $31.6 million a month after Maria.

The good news is that there are some creative ways to combat donor fatigue and boost giving – even after relief donations usually dry up. For instance, musical theater superstar Lin-Manuel Miranda will reprise his signature role as Alexander Hamilton in 2019 in San Juan to raise money for Puerto Rican disaster relief while lifting local spirits.

It’s also not too late for the federal government to dedicate additional funding to help fill the gaps that remain. And there’s still time for everyone to make a difference by making monetary donations that give relief organizations the freedom to use those funds where they are needed the most.

Read the full article by Samantha Penta about Puerto Rico disaster recovery from The Conversation