US Disaster
What Does U.S. Disaster Response Do?
Often the winds of a storm haven’t even stopped blowing when Convoy of Hope’s U.S. Disaster Response team rolls in. Convoy of Hope is considered a “first responder” organization in disaster relief. Our mission is to address physical and spiritual needs.
A key element of our response efforts is our partnership with the local church. We believe the local church, through volunteer mobilization, can be vital in serving and be the face of hope and help. U.S. Disaster Response facilitates relief efforts between churches and other organizations to help best serve the needs of survivors.
Our History
What is now U.S. Disaster Response began in 1998 when Convoy of Hope responded to a flood in Del Rio, TX, after Tropical Storm Charley. Since then some of the well remembered response efforts are Tropical Storm Allison in 2001, the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 in New York and Washington D.C., Hurricanes Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne that hit Florida in 2004, the catastrophic storms of Hurricane Katrina and Rita that pummeled the Gulf Coast in 2005, and most recently Hurricanes Gustav and Ivan in the Gulf Coast in 2008. USDR has also provided relief to victims of fires, tornadoes, ice storms, power outages and floods through out the United States. In 2008 alone, USDR touched 88 communities in 11 states through disaster response efforts.
Our Capacity
With our fleet of trucks, 300,000 square foot warehouse, Mobile Command Center, and utilizing the first response P.O.D. (Points of Distribution) model, USDR has become an active and efficient disaster relief organization, providing resources and help to victims in the first days of a disaster. In recent years Convoy of Hope has expanded its capabilities and capacity through development of Strike Teams and a Ham Radio Network.
Our Partnerships
Our success is due in part to strong relationships with the faith-based community, and national and state disaster relief organizations. Some of those relationships include NVOAD (National Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster), the Assemblies of God, Mercy Medical Airlift, and North American Mission Board, as well as several states.
Our Preparedness Initiative
When Convoy of Hope is not responding to disasters, we are focused on disaster preparedness. Nationwide polls indicate that 7 out of 10 people are not prepared to survive three days following a natural or man-made disaster. Because we know it’s a matter of “if, not when,” Convoy of Hope U.S. Disaster Response has developed a program that helps churches, businesses and individuals with preparedness education in a program called H.O.P.E. Begins Here (Helping Others Prepare for Emergencies). HBH brings local churches and community organizations to the same table, enabling both groups to meet and begin working together to train individuals, families and churches how they can be prepare and respond in times of disaster. Once a family, a church or a business is prepared, they are much better able to help their community in times of disaster. HBH events are usually done in three parts: a Faith-Based Preparedness Symposium, a Business Preparedness Seminar and a Family Preparedness Festival. For more information on HBH, please visit the website at: http://www.convoyofhope.org/go/usdisaster/hbh.
For more information on U.S. Disaster Response, please call 1-417-823-8998.