Watching recent news from Chile can break your heart. When one of the world’s most destructive earthquakes hit last month, it lasted just a couple of minutes, but left hundreds dead and millions searching for food and shelter.

News reports gave grim details. In Concepcion, a large coastal city, 100 people were trapped under a collapsed building and looters roamed the streets. Other less-developed communities nearly disappeared altogether, first from the tremor, then from huge ocean waves caused by the upheaval.

Living in our part of the world, it’s hard to imagine how destructive a great earthquake can be. So, imagine this: The initial event set loose a force equivalent to nearly 16 billion tons of exploding TNT.

But that wasn’t the end of the story. More than 100 aftershocks continued — some large enough to be categorized as “strong” earthquakes, themselves — shaking people again and making life even more complicated for rescue workers.

Haven’t we seen this story before?

Less than three months into the new year, we’ve already seen our second terrible earthquake. The first, centered near the Haitian capital of Port au Prince, wasn’t as large as the one in Chile but did more damage in a poor country with fragile buildings and a weak infrastructure.

So far, 230,000 earthquake-related deaths have been reported in Haiti, many times the early estimates we’re hearing from Chile.

As always, Americans are opening their hearts and wallets to ease suffering and begin the long rebuilding process. If you can help, too, please do. But be wary about where you send your contributions.

It’s an unfortunate fact of life, but whenever money begins flowing, disreputable people are more than ready to step in and divert some to their own pockets.

According to one USA Today report, federal law enforcement officials have received more than 170 complaints about scams in the name of Haitian earthquake relief. Many target online givers, but others are simply people going door-to-door asking for money or fake charities making a typical pitch.

Then, there are entirely-legitimate charities collecting money in less-effective ways. A new one made popular early in the Haitian relief effort is giving by texting, where you send a short text message to some special number and a small contribution is added to your monthly phone bill. It’s easy to give and, if enough people respond, can generate a substantial amount of money.

On the other hand, it’s so easy to give that some people can quickly ring up a bill they didn’t expect and maybe can’t pay. Plus, it can take a very long time for these contributions to get from your phone to where help is needed right away.

Given all of the options, what is the best way to help people struggling in Chile?

First of all, make your contribution to a reputable organization with experience in disaster relief and a network already in place where people need the help.

The American Institute of Philanthropy, a watchdog group that evaluates and rates charities, suggests these top-rated organizations to support the effort in Chile: American Red Cross, AmeriCares, Brother’s Brother Foundation, Catholic Relief Services, Church World Service, Doctors Without Borders USA, Habitat for Humanity International, International Medical Corps, Lutheran World Relief, Mercy Corps, Operation USA, Oxfam-America, Salvation Army, Save the Children, UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief) and World Vision.

The United Way, which provides funding to many of these groups and others based in and near Chile, is another very good option, and the effort it's coordinating now is updated regularly at www.liveunited.org/chileupdate/.

Second, give directly to the charity — rather than through some third party — so your contribution can be moved quickly. Once it’s there, you will be helping provide food, shelter and medical care for victims and rescue workers. Then, establishing field hospitals, water purification plants and temporary bridges to ease suffering.

When you want to help, it’s hard to say “no” to any appeal. But doing the most good with your contribution is important. After all, it’s not necessarily the charity that matters; it’s getting your contribution quickly and reliably to provide real relief where it’s needed most.