Irma Update – SVDP National Disaster relief

Sheila Gilbert, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul National Council President has issued a national domestic disaster appeal. Hurricane Irma hit the state of Florida as a Category 5 hurricane, the most powerful hurricane ever recorded (National Hurricane Center, September 5, 2017), right on the heels of flooding and devastation caused by Hurricane Harvey in Texas. Irma has left miles of destruction throughout the entire state of Florida and into adjoining states. Search and rescue has begun, millions of people have been evacuated, and millions of Floridians are without power. It will be weeks before basic services will be back on-line.

SVdP Disaster Services are needed now more than ever! Millions of people have been evacuated and SVdP members and volunteers are rushing to assist with immediate and long term recovery needs. Your contribution is critical to meeting the needs of those of who have lost everything!

SVdP Disaster Services is working on the ground in Texas and now responding to Hurricane Irma in Florida. Disaster Services personnel are training 41 Vincentians who are deploying as part of six Rapid Response Teams for Hurricane Harvey relief and recovery. Parish Recovery Assistance Centers (P-RACs) are now set up to assist survivors in five of the seven impacted dioceses.

The Puerto Rico Council has been provided with logistics support and connections with FEMA on the ground. When power is restored, resources will be for their impacted Conferences.

We have also established a Hurricane Harvey Hotline at (877) 368-6494 that our Councils can call or refer survivors to if they need information on shelters, temporary housing, or parish, FEMA, state and community resources.

Please help ensure that SVdPUSA Disaster Services has the means to support the recovery needs of these hurricanes by making a donation to the Domestic Disaster Fund!

With your help and the help of SVdP Conferences and Councils, we will be armed with the needed resources. One of the most important resources is to ensure the Domestic Disaster Fund is sufficient to help during these times of crisis. These funds help to support SVdP resources needed to respond to disasters across the United States.

Immediate and critical needs are support of the local Disaster Rapid Response Teams, Disaster Case Management services, gift cards for immediate needs of displaced families, temporary shelter and eventually  the House in a Box® Program (90-120 days out at a minimum).

SVdP’s House in a Box program restores lives one house at a time. This program was implemented to supply disaster survivors with critical items to furnish an entire home from the kitchen to the bathroom to the bedroom, including furniture, dishes, towels, utensils and bed linens. A contribution of $2,500 covers a House in a Box for four people.

Hurricanes Harvey and Irma are just two of many domestic disasters responded to by the National Disaster Services of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. Your donationhelp to support the SVdP Domestic Disaster resources needed to respond to disasters across the United States. Thank you if you have already made a donation and for your continued support.

Please consider supporting the Domestic Disaster Fund. For online donations, there is a drop-down menu on the donation form. You can choose to donate to Hurricane Harvey relief, Hurricane Irma relief or to support the General Domestic Disaster relief.

We are deeply thankful for all you do to give glory to God by giving to those in need!

Elizabeth Disco-Shearer CEO Disaster Services Corporation SVdP-USA ldisco@svdpdisaster.org

Brooke Newton Deputy Director Disaster Services Corporation SVdP-USA bnewton@svdpdisaster.org