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​Domestic Disaster Response & Preparedness

Photo: Craig Thompson, Disciple Design

When disasters strike, Week of Compassion is here to help:
before, during, and after.

* In order to protect volunteers and communities we serve during the COVID-19 pandemic, volunteers should use caution, heed the guidance of public health officials, and pay close attention to protocols required before and while serving. All Week of Compassion volunteers must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before serving.

Week of Compassion offers resources and training opportunities to help congregations prepare for and respond to disasters. Immediately following disasters in the United States and Canada, Week of Compassion works through local congregations and regions to provide guidance, connections, and resources for navigating disaster response. We invest the majority of our disaster response resources in long-term recovery, primarily for the purpose of repairing and rebuilding homes. In coordination with Disciples and ecumenical partners, Week of Compassion also supports opportunities for Disciples to offer hands-on assistance.

Learn more about our ongoing responses below.
You can also find volunteer opportunities or learn how to prepare for disasters.
+ VOLUNTEER INTEREST FORM +
+ DISASTER RESPONSE BROCHURE +

​ONGOING RESPONSES
Hurricane Ian (2022) - Florida
Hurricane Fiona (2022) - Puerto Rico
​
Flooding (2022) - Missouri
Flooding (2022) - Kentucky
Tornado Outbreak (Dec 2021) * - Kentucky
Hurricane Ida  (2021) - Louisiana, Gulf Coast, East Coast
West Coast Fires (2020) - California & Oregon
Hurricanes Laura & Delta (2020) - Louisiana *                         
​
Hurricane Florence (2018) - North Carolina*           
Hurricanes Irma & Maria (2017) - Puerto Rico
​Hurricane Harvey (2017) - Texas
EMERGING RESPONSES
Week of Compassion is in conversation with local churches and partners in areas where disasters are ongoing or have recently occurred. As needs are emerging, we are assessing potential for response.

Tornado (2023) - Texas
​Tornadoes (2023) - Alabama and Georgia
Severe Storms/Flooding (2023) - California
Earthquakes (2022) - California
Wildfires (2022) - New Mexico and California
​Water Crisis (2022) - Jackson, Mississippi


​* volunteer opportunities available, with COVID-19 precautions

Tornado - Texas

1/24/2023

On Jan. 24, the southern edge of a strong front spawned damaging thunderstorms and an EF3 tornado southeast of Houston, TX. Thousands of structures in the suburban communities of Pasadena, Deer Park, and Baytown were affected, with hundreds of homes suffering severe or total damage. Week of Compassion is in touch with Regional leadership, as well as congregations and partners in Harris County, just southeast of downtown Houston, Texas where damage was reported as a tornado touched down. One Disciples congregation had minor damage to their church building and is coordinating with area congregations and organizations to serve nearby neighbors who were impacted by the storm. 
Read more about how Disciples are responding and how you can help!
​

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Tornadoes - Alabama and Georgia

1/12/2023

On Jan. 12, a tornado outbreak caused damage in Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia. No damage to church buildings is reported by Disciples at this time, though some Disciples households have sustained damage to their homes. Week of Compassion is in close contact with leaders and partners in affected areas, responding to the needs of affected congregations, and supporting congregations with pastoral care, information, and grants as they provide assistance in their communities. - Federal disaster declaration-DR-4684-AL

Read more about how Disciples are responding and how you can help!

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Severe Storms and Flooding (2023) - California

1/1/2023

updated: 01/31/2023
Throughout the end of December 2022 and beginning of 2023, California experienced successive major storms that produced record rainfall across much of the state. Even as the state experiences persistent drought, many communities experienced dangerous and damaging flooding. Multiple Disciples church buildings sustained damage, as have several Disciples households. We are in close conversation with Regional staff and local pastors in the Northern California/Nevada Region and the Pacific Southwest Region and with ecumenical partners support in this emerging response and identify long-term needs. 
- Federal disaster declaration-    DR-4683-CA​

Read more about how Disciples are responding and how you can help!​


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Earthquakes (2022/2023) - California

12/20/2022

updated: 01/31/2023
On Dec. 20, 2022 a 6.4 magnitude earthquake struck in Humboldt County in Northern California, resulting in two deaths, water and power outages, and significant damage to infrastructure and hundreds of homes. A second quake (5.4 magnitude) hit the same area just 12 days later, exacerbating the damage. Week of Compassion connected with Regional leadership and local congregations, as well as ecumenical partners to provide relief and to begin planning for long-term recovery.
​
Read more about how Disciples are responding and how you can help!​


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Hurricane Ian

9/30/2022

2022 - Florida

updated 01/27/2023
On September 28, Hurricane Ian made landfall on the central gulf coast of Florida, as a category 4 hurricane, and one of the strongest in the state’s history. Week of Compassion worked with local churches and partners to provide immediate relief, including access to cleaning supplies, basic necessities, and solidarity grants. We continue to be in communication with Regional staff, local church pastors, ecumenical partners, and local long-term recovery groups to assess needs and plan for long-term recovery, including volunteer opportunities.
 To support this response, designate gifts 'Hurricanes 2022'. To stay informed about volunteer opportunities, complete a volunteer interest form.
- Federal disaster declaration DR-4673-FL 
Read more about how Disciples are responding and how you can help!

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Hurricane Fiona

9/18/2022

2022 - Puerto Rico

updated 01/17/2023
On Sunday, Sept. 18, Hurricane Fiona made landfall in southwest Puerto Rico as a Category 1 hurricane. Initial damage from strong winds knocked out power to most of the island. Extreme rainfall from the slow-moving storm poses a significant flood threat. Week of Compassion is in conversation with our partners through the Iglesia Cristiana (Discipulos de Cristo) and Puerto Rico VOAD about developing needs. The impact of this storm complicates the ongoing recoveries from Hurricanes Irma and Maria (2017) and the 2020 earthquakes.
​To support the response to this storm, designate your gift "Hurricanes 2022".
- Federal disaster declaration DR-4671-PR
 

Water Crisis

9/1/2022

2022 - Jackson, Mississippi

Flooding of the Pearl River caused the failure of the water treatment plant in Jackson, Mississippi. The city's nearly 200,000 residents were completely without water for a time, and as water returned at low pressure, it was still unsafe for drinking, cooking, washing dishes, and bathing. 
Read more about how Disciples are responding and how you can help!

Read More
 

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Week of Compassion 
P.O. Box 1986 
Indianapolis, IN 46206
Week of Compassion is the relief, refugee and development mission fund of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada.
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  • Home
  • About
    • Mission
    • History
    • Staff
    • Board of Stewards
    • From The Executive Director
  • Action
    • Domestic Disaster Response & Preparedness >
      • How To Prepare For A Disaster
    • International Disaster Response
    • Refugee and Immigrant Response
    • Sustainable Development
    • COVID-19 Response
  • Stories
  • Resources
    • Special Offering >
      • Special Offering 2023
    • Worship Material
    • Media
    • Logos
    • Special Offering Archives
  • Get Involved
    • Ways to Give >
      • Circle of Compassion
      • Endowments
    • Invite Us to Your Church
    • Volunteer
  • Donate
  • Contact Us