Photo: Associated Press, Stephen Smith 2024
On October 9, Hurricane Milton made landfall in Florida as a dangerous Category 3 storm, leaving significant damage and flooding in its wake as it cut through the state and moved offshore. The initial aftermath whipped up tornadoes and cut power for more than 3.3 million people, putting 11 million people at risk of flooding and causing at least nine fatalities. Since then, FEMA has deployed over 1,000 incident management staff to Florida, and other federal agencies have deployed 1,200 additional search and rescue personnel. The devastation of Hurricane Milton comes less than two weeks after Helene tore through the region, breaking the record for the shortest amount of time between two major hurricanes in Florida. CWS offices in Florida are bracing for impact, while CWS continues its response for survivors of catastrophic flooding in North Carolina.
As of October 18, CWS has distributed 5,824 Emergency Cleanup Buckets, 10,310 Hygiene Kits, 7,280 Blankets, 1,800 Menstrual Hygiene Kits, 650 School Kits and 72 Welcome Backpacks to partners in Florida and North Carolina (a value of more than $697,000). We are shipping more supplies as impacted communities become accessible. CWS has also been working to connect impacted families who are not eligible for FEMA assistance with safe temporary housing. CWS will also be involved in long-term recovery to help meet the needs of those impacted in the months and years to come.
In the wake of back-to-back hurricanes, with entire communities battered and broken, your support through CWS can be the lifeline families need to survive and rebuild.
Stories
CWS Emergency Preparedness, Response and Recovery
In the days immediately following a catastrophic disaster, CWS provides cleanup buckets, kits and vital supplies to help impacted people begin to clear up what was left behind. In the U.S. and around the world CWS works with trusted local community-based organizations to reach the most vulnerable communities, including immigrants and refugees, to provide the support these families need. When disasters, both natural and man-made, force families to flee their homes in search of safety, CWS provides emergency support along the journey and connects them with vital services to rebuild their lives.
The road to recovery is often long and challenging. That’s why after attention fades, CWS works to ensure that affected communities continue to receive the help they need by providing support to community long-term recovery groups. The Emergency Response Fund allows us to quickly respond to emergencies as soon as they occur. Donor support not only allows CWS to quickly respond to emergencies as soon as they occur, but also reminds our neighbors on the journey from recovery to thriving, they are never alone.
About CWS
For nearly 80 years, CWS has been a trusted leader in emergency response work. As a member of the global ACT Alliance, national and statewide VOAD (Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster), we work for the safety, justice and dignity of all people and do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation or national origin. We do not promote religious conversion or require any profession of faith to be a part of our programs or to receive support. CWS was awarded the 2022 National VOAD Member of the Year.