ELCA Calls for Support of Disaster Relief and Prevention
Tell Congress that disaster response is a priority for people of faith
UPDATE: As Hurricane Ida surges through Louisiana and other southern states this week, it is a critical time to reach out to our lawmakers to ensure our communities have the resources they need to respond to natural disasters. Please take action and share with your congregation and partners today!
In mid-August, tropical storm Henri made its way across Rhode Island and the wider Northeast as other devastating floods inundated parts of North Carolina, Tennessee, and other states. This came as Hurricane Grace left at least eight dead in Mexico on Saturday, and as a tropical storm and earthquake left a devastating aftermath in Haiti just last week. Many of us in the U.S. and across the world either have experienced, or are experiencing, the detrimental effects of floods, severe storms, hurricanes, tornadoes, and wildfires. The impact from the increased frequency of disasters, compounded by the rising influences of slow-onset climate change, make it essential for our institutions and public policies to be better prepared for this ongoing reality.
Across the U.S. and abroad, houses of worship and faith-based organizations are some of the most important partners in preparing communities for disasters and are often among the stakeholders that remain in impacted areas after a catastrophe strikes. From our social teachings and mission as church, voices of faith are uniquely poised to speak to the prioritization of low-income neighborhoods and individuals in the greatest need – most of whom are often the last to see any assistance in a recovery.
Lawmakers in Congress are eager to hear from our experiences in disaster relief as they take vital steps to prepare our communities to be more resilient in the future. Below are some policy proposals that would strengthen our country’s disaster recovery efforts:
The Reforming Disaster Recovery Act (S.2471/H.R. 4707): A bipartisan bill that would, among many changes, increase federal response transparency with community partners, raise commitments to long-term resiliency after reconstruction, and authorize the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Disaster relief program into formal law (more about CDBG programs from an ELCA Housing and Disaster Response resource).
The Housing Survivors of Major Disasters Act: A bill emerging from the lessons of Hurricane Maria offering proposals to reduce documentation barriers and bureaucracy for families trying to access FEMA benefits after a disaster.
The customizable, suggested email language in the letter (link below) emphasizes several additional policy response possibilities, including:
updating flood maps;
providing funding support to help with relief and recovery efforts in Haiti;
raising disaster mitigation allocations in the federal budget; and
recognizing fragile realities for migrants and immigrants with post-disaster rebuilding realities.
These structural policy efforts, paired with the work of ELCA ministries and partners, will go a long way toward advancing our goals of building more resilient and equitable communities. Our lawmakers in Congress need to hear that disaster relief, preparedness and resilience are priorities for people of faith, and that these essential efforts and reforms should be advanced as soon as possible.
Customize the letter (link below) with your own story, disaster experience, or faith-based reflection to Congress today.
You can donate directly to recovery efforts in Haiti and other areas impacted by disasters through Lutheran Disaster Response.