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
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. Tornadoes (2023) - AR, MO, MS, OK, TN 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
Flooding7/26/2022 2022 - MissouriHistoric flash flooding hit the Saint Louis Metro area in late July, when thunderstorms dropped historic amounts of rain. Some areas recorded more than 9 inches in just 15 hours. Several Disciples congregations are located in affected areas. - Federal disaster declaration - DR-4665-MO Read more to learn about our response and how you can help.
Flooding7/24/2022 2022 - eastern KentuckyA week of extreme rains in Eastern Kentucky led to catastrophic flooding across 20 counties, destroying roads, bridges, buildings, and homes. Tens of thousands of Kentuckians have registered for federal assistance. While we do not have active congregations in the most affected areas, Disciples are responding through partners and planning for long-term re. - Federal disaster declaration- DR-4663-KY Read more about how Disciples are involved AND how you can help!
updated 01/31/23 Multiple fires across the Western U.S. affected communities in 2022. From April until late June, the combined Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon Fires ravaged Mora, San Miguel, and the edge of Taos Counties in New Mexico, burning 341,471 acres and threatening wildlands, homes and businesses, agricultural resources, and lives in this Hispanic majority region. It was the largest fire in New Mexico’s recorded history with devastation further exacerbated by subsequent flooding when rains finally came to the denuded mountainsides. The Hermit’s Peak Fire Assistance Act provides unique federal assistance resources for this recovery. In September, the Mill Fire burned 3,935 acres around Weed, CA, destroying homes in the Lincoln Heights and Lake Shastina areas, primarily affecting low-income residents. While we do not have Disciples congregations in the immediate areas of these fires, Week of Compassion is in contact with partners in affected areas, and we are providing grants to help the communities organize long-term recovery. Read more about how Disciples are responding and how you can help!
Tornado Outbreak12/11/2021 2021 - western Kentuckyupdated: 01/27/2023 An historic tornado outbreak caused damage and casualties in multiple states, with the greatest impact in Western Kentucky. Several Disciples congregations were directly affected, with one church building destroyed and dozens of Disciples households among the thousands who lost their homes. Week of Compassion is coordinating with the Region, congregations, and ecumenical partners to provide relief and support long-term recovery. - Federal disaster declaration: 4630-DR-KY Read more about how Disciples are involved AND how you can help!
Hurricane Ida10/1/2021 2021 - Louisiana, Gulf Coast, East Coastupdated: 01/27/2023 On Aug 29 2021, Hurricane Ida made landfall as a category 4 hurricane in southeastern Louisiana, knocking out power to hundreds of thousands (some for weeks) and causing damage to thousands of homes. Several dozen Disciples households and churches were among those who sustained damage. Over 800,000 households registered for FEMA assistance in Louisiana alone. The storms continued to bring wind and heavy rain to multiple states as it tracked inland. The remnants of the storm dropped historic amounts of rain, especially, in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York, where Disciples congregations and members were again among those affected. - Federal Disaster Declarations: 4611-DR-LA, 4614-DR-NJ, 4615-DR-NY, 4618-DR-PA. Read more about how Disciples are invovled AND how you can help!
Winter Storm2/14/2021
updated: 04/07/2022 In mid-February 2021, a significant winter storm brought historic low temperatures to much of the U.S. and Canada. Impacts were especially consequential in Texas, where counties across the state experienced prolonged power outages, water system failures, and damage due to frozen pipes. Dozens of Disciples congregations sustained damage to their church buildings or at their members' homes. - FEMA Disaster Declarations: DR4586-TX, DR4587-OK, DR4590-LA Read more about Disciples involvement.
Hurricanes Sally & Zeta9/17/2020 2020 - U.S. Gulf Coastupdated: 04/05/2022 After stalling off the coast of Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida, Hurricane Sally underwent a period of rapid intensification before making landfall as a category 2 hurricane near Gulf Shores, AL very early on Sept 16 2020. The very slow-moving storm battered coastal communities in Alabama and the panhandle of Florida for hours. More than half a million customers were without power as of Sept 17, even as the storm continued moving across Georgia and South Carolina. Thousands of homes were damaged from flooding and trees toppled by the winds. Several Disciples congregations in have been directly affected, including damage at church buildings. - Federal disaster declarations: DR-4563-AL and DR-4564-FL Six weeks later, Hurricane Zeta made landfall as a category 3 hurricane made landfall in eastern Louisiana before tracking across Alabama, bringing significant rain to areas affected by Hurricane Sally. Read more about how Disciples are involved AND how you can help!
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