Fire and Water SVdP Responds to Wildfires, Floods and other Disasters

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1 Fire and Water SVdP Responds to Wildfires, Floods and other Disasters Devastating wildfires have ravaged parts of California and dangerous flooding has overwhelmed South Carolina. The SVdPUSA Disaster Services Division (DSD) is assisting Vincentians in these areas and coordinating with other agencies to help with the relief effort. California Wildfires Vincentians are working with families who have lost their homes to the Middletown Valley and other California wildfires. SVdP members are meeting with families at the FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers and qualifying families for the House in a Box program and Long Term Disaster Case Management. Through the collaborative efforts of the local SVdP Councils and the DSD, a safety net is being provided to prevent middle income families from falling into situational poverty. The stories and the devastation are overwhelming, but Vincentians are providing emotional and spiritual support by their presence. The following story is from one of our SVdP Conferences in Lake County, one of the areas most devastated by the fires. "The Valley Fire touched the lives of hundreds of families in Lake County. At the evacuation shelter a few days later, we came in contact with a young family with three small children--a 9-year old boy, and two girls ages 5 and 2. Their fourth

2 child, another girl, is due in November. The wife is a stay-at-home mother and the husband is an agricultural worker. The home they had been renting in Hidden Valley Lake had been destroyed by the fire. Like so many others, they had no insurance. They lost everything. By working with our local contacts, within a few days we were able to help them connect with a group that was able to place them in temporary housing at the Konocti Resort. When we asked them how we might help them further, the only requests they had were for help with gas and a pair of shoes for their son to wear to school. We gave them gas cards and a Walmart gift card for the shoes. We let them know that we are here if they need further assistance. They have applied for our Housein-a-Box program, and we are looking forward to delivering the furniture and furnishings to them when they are able to obtain permanent housing." More than 200 families have signed up for the House-in-a-Box program to help with their recovery from the wildfires. Please consider asking your Conference to sponsor a family for House-in-a-Box. A couple can be sponsored for $1,250 and a family of four for $1,850, which includes shipping to our local House-in-a-Box warehouse. The SVdP DSD does all of the ordering and logistical training for the House-in-a-Box program. SVdP's House in a Box program helps to restore 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. Click here to help! The DSD is helping the Western Region and the Councils in the disaster zone with technical support, communications and disaster recovery training. In addition, the DSD is serving as a liaison with governmental entities. For a California statewide fire map, click:

3 the DSD Twitter account for updates and information about resources and community updates such as where there is fresh water and which groups can help with debris cleanup, etc. South Carolina Flooding Vincentians in South Carolina are helping families affected by the rain and flooding. SVdP members are providing short-term and long-term recovery assistance for flood victims in South Carolina. The rainfall has set records all over the state, flooding entire towns. Thirteen dams in the state have failed, making the flooding even worse and people are still dealing with hundreds of road and bridge closures. In addition to the flooding from the heavy rainfall, record high tides are causing flooding in coastal areas. Three Conferences in the Columbia/Irmo area are assisting in the relief efforts. This is the story of one family they helped. One of the recipients of assistance is a young widow with two children, a boy, 11 and a girl, 8. Their apartment was flooded and they lost of all their belongings. The apartment lost electricity and the use of all appliances. SVdP was able to help this family. Financial assistance was made available and, upon learning of her living conditions, the Society was able to find an available house with appliances. SVdP offered to pay rent and utilities for a year. Someone supplied the family with three mattresses and the Society acquired box springs and frames for them, enabling the family to sleep off of the floor. A dining room table has been provided by another parishioner and Vincentians are looking for more furniture for the family. The DSD is helping Vincentians in the Southeast Region with communications, coordination and planning with disaster recovery operations. The DSD will provide long-term recovery assistance for flood victims in South Carolina and is working to set up the House in a Box program to help people recover. Click here to help!

4 In addition to responding to the California wildfires and South Carolina flooding, the DSD is actively supporting disaster relief/recovery operations in many areas of the country including: The Midwest Region with flood recovery in Dewitt, Neb. and Lusk, Wyo. The South Central Region with tornado recovery in Sand Springs, Okla. and House in a Box for the Texas Dioceses of Tyler and Houston. The North Central Region where the Illinois Diocese of Joliet is requesting the House in a Box program for the families who were impacted by the spring and summer floods. Locations where the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Disaster Services Division has provided Rapid Response Disaster Grants and/or technical support as a result of the 2015 spring, summer and fall floods, tornadoes and wildfires. Please support the National Council's National Domestic Disaster Relief Fund. It will take years for California and South Carolina to recover from these epic wildfires and floods. Please pray for all the families who have lost their homes to disasters and continue to support the efforts of Vincentians to help them. Your contribution will help change lives, rebuild homes, provide shelter and emergency daily-living supplies and most importantly, restore hope to those in need! To support SVdP relief efforts, visit the National Council's secure donation page and Donate Now.

5 Or, if you prefer, you can mail a check to: National Council of the United States Society of St. Vincent de Paul 58 Progress Parkway Maryland Heights, MO (Be sure to write "Domestic Disaster Relief Fund" in the memo field) A photo of some of the extensive damage caused by the California wildfires. Photo: Dave McNew, Getty Images Floodwaters close in on homes on a small piece of land on Lake Katherine in Columbia, S.C. Photo: Chuck Burton, AP If you have questions about this appeal, contact: Steve Martinez Chief Development Officer ext.213 smartinez@svdpusa.org