Cause of the Week: Disaster Relief

Subcauses: Public Safety, Fire Prevention, Search and Rescue, Natural Disasters, First Responders

"Rising sea levels, severe droughts, the melting of the polar [ice] caps, the more frequent and devastating natural disasters all raise demand for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.” – Leon Panetta 

Whether a local flood, a neighborhood leveled by a tornado, or a multi-state wildfire - when disasters strike, families and communities are often thrown into chaos. Together, we can cultivate the preparedness and improve response times to help people in need following emergencies in our communities. 

While some floods can be predicted and develop over time, flash floods are particularly common after a wildfire and can occur within minutes of the onset of a rainstorm, leaving little time for victims to prepare. In the US, between 2014-2018, policy holders outside of high-risk flood areas filed over 40% of all flood insurance claims. While too much water can be catastrophic, the lack of water can be just as devastating. Droughts limit the available drinking water and negatively impact food supplies, interrupting agricultural regions and potentially destabilizing economies. By 2025, it is estimated that half of the globe will be living in water-stressed areas. 

Unfortunately, most households are not prepared for the next disaster. Only 63% of adults in U.S. households could cover an unexpected cost of $400, using cash or credit. Only 17% of Americans claim to be prepared for an emergency. Of these, only a few families have adequate supplies (first aid kits, flashlights, blankets, clothing, medicine, and prescriptions) in their emergency supply kits. These statistics clearly demonstrate the need for CFC-supported charities to help in the aftermath of an emergency. 

The CFC makes it easy for all of us to change the world. Your donation to disaster relief cause areas helps to provide lifesaving equipment to public safety providers and supports education programs to keep communities safe.  Join the CFC community today and become a changemaker. 

09-20-2021