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. 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
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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! HOW DISCIPLES ARE INVOLVED
Local Contacts: Northern California/Nevada Region, Pacific Southwest Region, local Disciples congregations, California VOAD (Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster) Early Response: Week of Compassion provided solidarity grants to assist Disciples congregations and households affected by floods and to support organizations (Long Term Recovery Groups) forming to respond. Ongoing Engagement: Week of Compassion staff is in conversation with ecumenical partners about long-term needs and is working to connect partners with resources and assistance. HOW TO HELP Volunteer: TBD. Give to Week of Compassion: Designate US Storms Pray: Continue to pray for those affected by this crisis and for our Week of Compassion partners. Advocate: Compounding disasters in the region including extreme drought, wildfires, earthquakes and high poverty rates, add to the risk and the complications for communities recovering from these storms.Advocate for action to address climate change and for resources to support communities in preparing for and mitigating against disasters, especially related to water management. Comments are closed.
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