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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ONGOING RESPONSES
Hurricanes Sally & Zeta (2020) - Alabama West Coast Fires (2020) - California & Oregon Hurricanes Laura & Delta (2020) - Louisiana * Tornadoes (2019) - Ohio* VOLUNTEERS NEEDED Hurricane Florence (2018) - North Carolina* Carr Fire and Camp Fire (2018) - California Hurricanes Irma & Maria (2017) - Puerto Rico Hurricane Irma (2017) - Florida 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 Outbreak (Dec 2021) * - Kentucky Hurricane Ida (2021) - Louisiana, Gulf Coast, East Coast 2021 Wildfires |
* limited volunteer opportunities available, with COVID-19 precautions
Tornadoes3/2/2020
updated: 04/07/2022 Overnight between March 2 and 3, a series of tornadoes moved through Nashville and communities to the east. 25 people died in the storms, and several hundred people were injured. As of March 10, several hundred homes were confirmed damaged or destroyed, and damage assessments continue. - Federal disaster declaration: DR-4476-TN Another outbreak on April 12 and 13 caused extensive damage in Chattanooga and the surrounding areas. Response was complicated by restrictions due to COVID-19. - Federal disaster declaration: DR-4541-TN Read more about Disciples involvement.
Earthquakes1/7/2020
updated: 04/07/2022 From late December 2019 through January 2020, the southwest part of Puerto Rico experienced a series of earthquakes of varying strength and severity. Among the most damaging were a 4.7 quake on Dec. 28, a 6.4 shock on Jan. 7, and a 5.2 quake on Jan. 15, with many, smaller tremors between. The quakes damaged hundreds of structures, including several schools, and thousands of people evacuated their homes, uncertain of the safety of the buildings (roughly 6,000 individuals were in official and unofficial shelters/encampments as of Jan 21). The tremors damaged a power plant and portions of the electrical grid, causing power outages--some prolonged--across much of the island. Given the continued aftershocks and the recent trauma of Hurricanes Irma and Maria, emotional, psychological, and spiritual health are of great concern. Read more about Disciples involvement.
Kincade Fire11/8/2019
updated: 04/07/2022 The 2019 wildfire season has, as of early November, already been active. While the multiple incidents so far have been less destructive to homes than those of previous years, they have necessitated widespread evacuations and have damaged or destroyed over 700 structures. Additionally, utility companies have enacted fire prevention measures across the state, including prolonged blackouts during high fire danger conditions. The Kincade fire in Sonoma County near Geyserville required the evacuation of areas around First Christian Church; thankfully the church did not sustain damage. Read more about Disciples involvement.
Tropical Storm Imelda9/21/2019
updated: 01/31/2020 After a very rapid development in the Gulf of Mexico, Imelda made landfall in southeast Texas as a Tropical Storm on Sept. 17. It lingered over the region for several days, dropping record-breaking amounts of rain--over 40 inches in some areas. Communities from the greater Houston area east to the Louisiana border saw catastrophic flooding. As of this writing, approximately two dozen Disciples households had reported damage. Some churches are reporting minor damage, but none are known to have flooded at this time. As of November 25, over 10,500 households had been approved for Individual Assistance from FEMA, and many more households were affected but did not qualify for federal assistance. Read more about Disciples involvement.
Hurricane Dorian9/1/2019
updated: 04/07/2022 After passing over the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico with limited damage, Hurricane Dorian strengthened to a Category 5 storm and stalled over the northern islands of The Bahamas in early September 2019. Damage to the islands of Grand Bahama and Abaco is incredibly severe. The storm then tracked the eastern coast of Florida, remaining a short distance offshore, and causing some damage due to strong winds and storm surge. That track continued along the coast of Georgia and the Carolinas, with the storm closer to shore. After making landfall near Cape Hatteras, NC, the storm continued up the Atlantic. The storm made landfall again in Nova Scotia on on Sept. 7. Structural damage in the U.S. and Canada was less severe than predicted, though many communities experienced extended power outages. Read more about Disciples involvement.
Tornadoes5/27/2019
updated: 04/06/2022 Twenty-one tornadoes struck Ohio on Memorial Day 2019, including 11 in the greater Dayton area, damaging or destroying thousands of homes, including multiple apartment buildings. The displacement of renters exacerbated an existing shortage of affordable housing in the Greater Dayton area. - Federal disaster declaration: DR-4447-OH Read more about how Disciples are involved AND how you can help!
Tornadoes5/23/2019
updated: 04/07/2022 In May 2019 a series of tornadoes wrought damage across Missouri, including an EF3 tornado in Jefferson City, which caused severe damage at Community Christian Church, and an EF1 tornado in Eldon. Also among the many damaged buildings in Jefferson City were many rental and affordable housing properties. Read more about Disciples involvement.
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