Disaster
In a few minutes, your life can be torn apart. Winds, rain, waves or shaking can take away everything you love. Or over a few months or years, your home can become unsafe.
We walk with our neighbors through every stage of the disaster cycle. CWS programs help people prepare for the worst, making plans and gathering supplies. When an emergency happens, we team up with other responders to meet immediate needs. And when the time is right, we shift our focus to long-term recovery. When people are forced from their homes, we work hard to make sure they have safe and dignified lives.
The road to recovery and safety may be a long one, but no one should walk it alone.
When the Land turns to Liquid
A 7.5-magnitude earthquake struck Central Sulawesi, Indonesia, in September 2018. It triggered tsunamis and a phenomenon called liquefaction, when the ground literally turns to liquid. It moved entire villages, swallowed houses and destroyed infrastructure.
We immediately began to mobilize a response. Soon we were delivering water to thousands of families each day, distributing critical supplies and promoting hygiene among displaced families. As weeks turned to months, we focused on helping families build transitional shelters, build or repair water systems, and build sanitary bathrooms.
Latest Updates
Rebuilding and Becoming More Resilient
On September 28, 2018, a 7.5-magnitude earthquake hit the Minahasa Peninsula of Central Sulawesi, Indonesia, at 18:02 local time. Its epicenter was only 70 km north of the provincial capital, Palu. The earthquake triggered tsunamis, the worst of which was 7 meters high; caused landslides in mountainous areas; and was followed by land liquefaction that was reported to be the …
Updated Situation Report: Hurricane Season 2020
Appeal Code: 628M September 16 update: Hurricane Sally made landfall in Alabama last night, bringing two feet of rain to some areas. We are working with our local partners to determine our response plan. We will respond to requests for CWS Kits, Emergency Cleanup Buckets and Blankets, and we anticipate focusing on long-term recovery needs as well. More information will …
Situation Report: Hurricane Season 2020
Appeal Code: 628M August 27 update: Last night, Hurricane Laura slammed into the U.S. Gulf Coast as a Category 4 storm with 150 mile-per-hour winds. We are working with our local partners in Texas and Louisiana to determine our response plan. CWS Hygiene Kits and Emergency Cleanup Buckets are already on their way to Texas for the relief effort, and …