STORIES
Kutupalong Refugee Camp, Bangladesh // photo: Paul Jeffrey/ACT Alliance
Opportunities to learn and act to improve recovery efforts.
As the relief, refugee, and development mission fund of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Week of Compassion partners alongside communities both in the immediate aftermath of natural disasters and in the long-term recovery that follows. We work with dozens of partners on the Disciples' behalf– other denominations, nonprofits, and local communities– walking alongside people and communities as they rebuild homes, restore stability, and move toward hope after devastating loss. Our commitment is rooted in accompaniment: showing up not only in moments of crisis, but for the long journey of recovery that follows.
One of the largest influences on how we respond to natural disasters in the United States is the Federal Emergency Management Agency, better known as FEMA. We want you to be aware of potential federal policy changes that affect FEMA and, ultimately, our ability to accompany people through long-term recovery.
By executive action, the FEMA Review Council has produced a list of recommendations for redefining the agency’s scope. While the report includes a variety of reforms, we summarize the bulk as being a significant reduction of assistance: less federal funding available, higher damage thresholds for FEMA involvement, and greater operational and financial burdens on states and territories.
The unwritten expectation is that these cuts will be filled by churches, nonprofits, states, and local jurisdictions, with additional burdens often shifting onto communities already facing the greatest barriers to recovery. Industry leaders estimate that under these recommendations, costs to states and territories could more than double for disasters that receive a FEMA declaration. Plus, with an increased threshold to qualify for federal assistance, more disaster recoveries would fall entirely to states, territories, and local communities, which means greater costs to nonprofits and households as well. Week of Compassion believes disaster recovery should not depend on wealth, geography, or local capacity alone. Communities affected by disasters deserve equitable access to support and the opportunity to recover with dignity. Long-term recovery is strongest when federal systems, local communities, faith organizations, and nonprofit partners work together. We are also deeply concerned about the proposed changes to the FEMA Individual Assistance programs, which would directly tie assistance maximums to property values. Linking benefits to pre-disaster wealth and not post-disaster need means those with the fewest resources may face the greatest obstacles to recovery. The recommendations also scale back the scope of assistance and further shift more costs and program responsibilities to the states and territories. To be clear, Week of Compassion does not receive direct federal funding. However, as we are helping rebuild homes in Central Texas, Western North Carolina and numerous other communities, we are working with survivors who have received FEMA assistance to replace critical items, secure temporary housing, and to start making repairs. These communities are counting on FEMA reimbursements for the costs of recovery processes like debris removal and infrastructure repairs. Every dollar matters as communities rebuild. Recovery happens best when communities are supported with compassion, dignity, and the resources needed to move forward-- not when they are left to carry their recovery alone. We speak about these potential impacts because accompaniment is central to who we are. We speak because local communities matter. We speak because recovery requires partnership, leadership, and systems that help people move from crisis toward hope. As people of faith committed to compassionate and effective disaster recovery, we would encourage our leaders to look to the bipartisan Fixing Emergency Management for Americans Act of 2025 (FEMA Act, H.R. 4669) as an alternative, and more effective and equitable, approach to reforming federal disaster structures. Having moved through the Transportation and Infrastructure committee, the bill is being considered by the Homeland Security committee of the House of Representatives. Faith calls us not only to compassion, but to action. We invite you to engage in the following ways:
Together, we can be the faithful voice of a church that transforms suffering into hope, standing alongside communities in times of crisis and advocating for recovery systems that are equitable, compassionate, and resilient. Together, we can help ensure that no community walks the long road of recovery alone. Comments are closed.
|
region / focus :
All
|
