Disaster Recovery Funds

Natural disasters happen. Often, they occur unexpectedly. By setting up a disaster recovery fund, your community is creating the means for outside donations to stay local.

Generous and empathetic people want to help when a community is in crisis – so the disaster recovery fund is vital.

What are Natural Disaster Recovery Funds?

An established Natural Disaster Recovery Fund ensures that there is an immediate place to direct donations in the event of a natural disaster. A group of local citizens will guide the process of promoting the fund and will determine how funds are put to work.

It is said that the first 48 hours after a disaster are crucial for receiving financial support and donations; by establishing the fund in advance you have a go-to place to direct donations when the worst does happen.

It is human nature to want to reach out when disaster strikes. News media and social media help to get the word out. When a fund is already established it is easy to direct gifts to the proper place.

What are the stages of dealing with disasters?

Preparedness. Response. Recovery. Resilience.

Our counties have emergency management teams who have plans in place, should disaster strike. The community immediately goes into response mode, working to protect lives and property where possible.

Once the imminent danger has passed, the recovery process begins. Plans begin to repair what has been damaged or replace what has been lost. Disaster resilience is the ability of individuals, communities and organizations to adapt to and recover from hazards, shocks or stresses without compromising long-term prospects for development. Communities achieve disaster resilience much sooner with a well-thought-out plan and a Disaster Recovery Plan in place.