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.
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.
You can also find volunteer opportunities or learn how to prepare for disasters.
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Request print copies via [email protected]
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ONGOING RESPONSES
Wildfires - Hawai'i Tornadoes/Severe storms (2023) - AR Tornado (2023) - Texas Tornadoes (2023) - MS, AL, and GA Severe Storms/Flooding (2023) - California Wildfires (2022) - New Mexico and California Hurricane Ian (2022) - Florida Hurricane Fiona (2022) - Puerto Rico* Flooding (2022) - Kentucky* Tornado Outbreak (2021) - Kentucky* Hurricane Ida (2021) - Louisiana, Gulf Coast, East Coast West Coast Fires (2020) - California & Oregon 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. Severe Storms and Tornadoes - Missouri, Kentucky, and Indiana Central Texas Floods |
* volunteer opportunities available, with COVID-19 precautions
Wildfires - Hawai'i8/11/2023 Wildfires in early August on the Big Island and the island of Maui devastated communities and claimed more than 100 lives. Among the most severe impacts was the near total destruction of the town of Lahaina. Week of Compassion is in touch with Regional leadership and the local Disciples congregations on the island of O'ahu, as well as with ecumenical partners on the island of Maui. Early response includes support of childcare teams with Children's Disaster Services. - Federal Disaster Declaration - DR-4724-HI
Tornado - Texas1/24/2023 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!
Updated 04/25/2024 On Jan. 12, 2023, a tornado outbreak caused damage in Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia. Another tornado outbreak hit Mississippi in late March. Week of Compassion responded to the needs of affected congregations and their neighbors, and we have developed partnerships to support long-term recovery in several communities. - Federal disaster declarations-DR-4684-AL, DR-4697 Read more about how Disciples are responding and how you can help!
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!
Earthquakes (2022/2023) - California12/20/2022 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!
Hurricane Ian9/30/2022 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!
Hurricane Fiona9/18/2022 2022 - Puerto Ricoupdated 08/17/2023
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 caused significant flooding. Week of Compassion partnered with the Iglesia Cristiana (Discipulos de Cristo), ecumenical partners, and Puerto Rico VOAD for early response and to support long-term recovery. The impact of this storm complicates the ongoing recoveries from Hurricanes Irma and Maria (2017) and the 2020 earthquakes. - Federal disaster declaration - DR-4671-PR Read more about how Disciples are involved AND how you can help! |
