The response phase of the 2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake was one that was critical for saving lives. At this stage, the earthquake and tsunami waves had already hit the land. The response phase began almost immediately after the tsunami waves began to recede, and emergency crews started their work in a matter of hours. One of the first tasks was to assess the integrity of the buildings in the surrounding area, and determine what buildings could still be occupied. In addition, the geographic extent of the disaster and areas most impacted were found. Emergency crews on-the-ground responded to drownings, victims being stuck on rooftops, or caught under debris. While that was happening, aid workers begin selecting stable buildings to be used as temporary shelters and staging areas. Because the areas affected are popular international tourist destinations, embassies began calling their own citizens, and established a hotline so that family members of these tourists could determine if their loved ones were safe. The countries around the globe also tried to help such as Australia, pledged 7.6 million dollars to help all the Asian countries recover.