A Rising Number of Natural Disasters and the Importance of Disaster Relief Funds
April 25, 2023
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As the calendar turns to June, we find ourselves once again entering hurricane season. With this annual occurrence comes the need for heightened awareness and preparedness. In this guide, we’ll share key information about hurricane season, including the forecast for 2023, a recap of the 2022 season, and tips to prepare for and during hurricane season. We will also shed light on how proactively establishing a relief fund can help those impacted by hurricane-related hardships.
2023 Predictions: Understanding the Upcoming Hurricane Season
Like most years, the events of the upcoming hurricane season—which lasts from June 1st to November 30th—are hard to predict for certain. However, leading meteorological organizations—like the Weather Company and Colorado State University—have made initial forecasts based on a range of factors, including sea surface temperatures, wind patterns, and the potential presence of El Niño conditions.
The Weather Company estimates that there will be at least 7 hurricanes this season and 3 of them will be major hurricanes—Category 3 or higher. Colorado State released a similar estimate.
These forecasts reflect the broader impact of climate change on the frequency and intensity of these natural disasters. Rising global temperatures are leading to warmer seas, which provide more energy for storms and increase the potential for hurricane development. They also underscore the importance of understanding and preparing for these events.
A Look Back: The 2022 Hurricane Season
One of the best ways to prepare for what to expect in the future is to look back at the events of the past. Last year during the 2022 hurricane season, we experienced a high number of intense storms that caused significant damage to homes and infrastructure, flooding, loss of power, and even resulted in many casualties.
In 2022, there were 8 hurricanes in the United States and 2 of them intensified into major hurricanes—Hurricanes Ian and Fiona. These storms were the most devastating, resulting in billions of dollars worth of damage and severe loss of life.
Hurricane Ian was particularly destructive, causing an estimated $112.9 billion worth of total damage in the U.S., making it the third-costliest United States hurricane on record. It was also directly responsible for at least 156 casualties. Hurricane Fiona primarily affected the Caribbean and Canada, causing an estimated $3.09 billion in damage and directly causing at least 7 deaths.
During the 2022 hurricane season, Emergency Assistance Foundation helped approximately 10,000 families with grants totaling $6,000,000. These grants provided crucial assistance to those who needed it most and helped impacted individuals start on the road to recovery.
Our home was severely damaged by Hurricane Ian, and we lost everything inside and outside of our house. Our home is still not even close to livable 4+ months later. This grant helped us with expenses for clothing and basic kitchen essentials we needed to replace after the hurricane. Anyone faced with the full devastation of these natural disasters should feel they are not alone and that others are willing to help. It is through the assistance and kindness of others that we are able to start to rebuild our lives. Thank you for your kindness. It has helped us to move forward and relieved us of some of the financial stress in these difficult times."
Tips To Prepare for Hurricane Season
Here are some essential tips to prepare for hurricane season to share with your team:
- Create a Disaster Plan: Know your evacuation routes and have a designated meeting place for family members.
- Build an Emergency Kit: This should include first aid supplies, bottled water, non-perishable food, flashlights, and batteries.
- Secure Your Property: Clear out gutters, trim trees, and secure loose outdoor items that can be lifted by strong winds.
- Review Your Insurance: Make sure you understand what your policy covers before a hurricane strikes.
Surviving the hurricane season requires more than just understanding when hurricane season is and how to prepare your home for it. It's about year-round preparedness, taking proactive steps, and fostering a mindset of readiness. While individuals can do everything correctly and properly prepare for a hurricane, the power of these natural disasters can still cause catastrophic damage. That’s why establishing a relief fund to take care of impacted team members is a critical part of preparing for hurricane season.
How Establishing a Disaster Relief Fund With Emergency Assistance Foundation Will Help Provide Aid
In the aftermath of a natural disaster—like a hurricane—your organization can help impacted team members rebuild and recover with a disaster relief fund administered by Emergency Assistance Foundation. A relief fund can boost morale and encourage your internal communities to contribute directly to the support of fellow team members. Establishing a fund can alleviate the stress that disasters put on those within your organization and allow them to stay focused on recovering from the event.
If your organization is interested in starting a relief fund, consider establishing a fund with Emergency Assistance Foundation today. As a financial first responder, we are resourceful and fearless in ensuring that financial assistance reaches individuals in need, no matter the unique circumstances involved.
Once you establish a fund, you can also launch an Immediate Response Program (IRP) in the event of a qualified disaster to provide small grants quickly and efficiently. This is a unique, low-cost program, which is supplemental to a fund’s standard grant program and awards small grants (< $1,000) quickly in times of large-scale disasters like hurricanes.
Proactively establishing a relief fund with Emergency Assistance Foundation ensures that your organization is ready to assist any team members that are impacted by hurricanes and other natural disasters, and it can even be life-saving. According to data analyzed for our landmark 10-year relief fund industry report, natural disasters are the number one event included in the grant criteria for funds that are established with Emergency Assistance Foundation.
In fact, 73% of the over 350 relief funds we administer include natural disasters in their grant criteria. The funds’ sponsoring organizations recognize the growing importance of taking care of their team members in the aftermath of a natural disaster. As the threat of hurricanes continues to increase, now is the perfect time to start preparing for how your organization will respond once the next disaster occurs.
By establishing a fund with us today, your organization can assist members of your team affected by hurricanes and increasing natural disasters. Relief fund grants can help impacted individuals pull through difficult times and start on the path toward recovery. If you’d like to learn more about how your organization can help your team during difficult times, you can review additional information about how a fund works or contact us today. We look forward to helping you make a difference for those who need it most!
