RALEIGH - The N.C. Division of Emergency Management asks those citizens who want to help in the Hurricane Katrina recovery efforts to follow these guidelines:

1. Donations should be given to legitimate relief organizations such as the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army, United Way or a person's own place of worship.
   
2. Fire and emergency service agencies should not respond without being requested and lawfully dispatched by state and local authorities under mutual aid agreements and the Emergency Management Assistance Compact.
   
3. Individual Volunteers should work through recognized service agencies such as the Red Cross, Salvation Army or faith-based organizations.

The National Incident Management System is being used during the response to Hurricane Katrina and self-dispatching volunteer assistance could significantly complicate the response and recovery effort, the Federal Emergency Management Agency said.

"We appreciate the overwhelming response from citizens wanting to help the hurricane victims," said Mike Sprayberry, deputy director of the N.C. Division of Emergency Management. "At this time, we need to ensure an orderly, coordinated response or else resource management in the affected states will become even more difficult."