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Week of Compassion
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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, many of our partners have suspended or restricted their volunteer disaster recovery operations. Week of Compassion recommends against volunteer teams traveling for the time being. Volunteers responding to local disasters should use caution and heed the guidance of public health officials.
​We encourage you to take this time to prepare for future mission opportunities by 1) becoming more disaster-ready as a household or congregation; 2) developing your skills in home repair; and 3) advocating for local, state, and federal policies that promote adequate and equitable disaster recovery.


Week of Compassion offers resources and training opportunities to help congregations prepare and respond. 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, or click here to prepare for disasters.
ONGOING RESPONSES
Hurricanes Laura and Delta, Louisiana
Derecho, Iowa
Tornadoes, Tennessee
​Tropical Storm Imelda, Texas
Tornadoes, Ohio​*                                                  
Tornadoes, Missouri                                          
Flooding, Oklahoma and Midwest US
Hurricane Michael, Florida                             
Hurricane Florence, North Carolina*           
Carr Fire and Camp Fire, California
Hurricanes Irma & Maria, Puerto Rico
Hurricane Irma, Florida*
​Hurricane Harvey, Texas
*limited volunteer opportunities available, with COVID-19 precautions

EMERGING RESPONSES 
Week of Compassion is in conversation with local churches and partners in these areas where disasters are ongoing or have recently occurred. As needs are emerging, we are assessing potential avenues for response.

Hurricane Sally
West Coast Fires
COVID-19

Hurricanes Laura and Delta

8/27/2020

updated: 09/14/2020
Event Summary: Hurricane Laura made landfall as a strong category 4 hurricane in Southwest Louisiana (about 35 miles from the Louisiana/Texas border) very early on August 27. The storm maintained hurricane strength as it moved inland through Louisiana. Roughly half a million customers were without power after the storm, with more than 60,000 still without power two weeks later. Thousands of homes sustained damage from the winds and rain. Several Disciples congregations in Southeast and central Louisiana were directly affected, including damage at church buildings and at members' homes. Federal disaster declaration: DR-4559-LA
Read​
How Disciples are Involved:
Local Contacts: Great River Region Disciples, Louisiana VOAD (Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster)

Early Response:  Week of Compassion is providing assistance to and through local Disciples congregations, with solidarity grants for affected congregations and members and grants to support congregational relief efforts. Staff are in regular communication with church leaders in the area as well as ecumenical partners through the VOAD network. Disciples in New Orleans have helped provided supplies for evacuees, and Disciples from New Orleans and Baton Rouge have provided clean-up assistance in cooperation with Disciples congregations in southeast Louisiana.

​Ongoing Engagement: We will continue to support the efforts of Disciples in the area and will assess possibilities for supporting long-term recovery. Read more here.


How to Help:
Volunteer: In the early days of response, logistics are not in place and housing is not available for volunteers who are not local; in the coming months, volunteers will be needed for rebuilding. Stay tuned for details about future volunteer opportunities. Interested local volunteers can reach out to Associate Director, Caroline Hamilton-Arnold.

Give to Week of Compassion: Designate “Hurricanes”

Pray: Continue to pray for those affected by the hurricane and for our Week of Compassion partners.

Advocate: Areas of important advocacy will include support for the largely rural areas affected by the hurricane​ and for folks who were already economically unstable because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
 


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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
    • Partners
  • Action
    • COVID-19 Response >
      • COVID-19 Offering Resources
    • Domestic Disaster Response & Preparedness >
      • How To Prepare For A Disaster
    • International Disaster Response
    • Sustainable Development
    • Refugees and Displaced People
  • Stories
  • Resources
    • Special Offering >
      • Special Offering 2021
    • Worship Material
    • Media
    • Logos
    • Archive
  • Get Involved
    • Ways to Give >
      • Circle of Compassion
      • Endowments
    • Invite Us to Your Church
    • Volunteering & Support
  • Donate
  • Contact Us