After Typhoon Haiyan struck the Philippines, the world wanted to help the devastated areas. Yet as we've seen in the wake of other mega-disasters, well-meaning assistance to shattered communities can cause more harm than good. Let's lay to rest some of the biggest misconceptions about how best to help victims of storms, earthquakes and calamities.

1. Locals in disaster areas wait for the international community to come save them.

The first responders after any emergency are always the survivors. Before Typhoon Haiyan struck, a large aid organization on the ground in the Philippines employed 95 local staffers. Within a week after the storm, it had hired close to 3,000 Filipinos. According to the program's emergency director, people coming into the office made their sentiments clear: They didn't want to be paid; they just wanted to help their communities.