Why nonprofits matter - Part 9

Nonprofits are crucial to disaster preparedness, response and recovery.

Whether it’s a landslide in Oso, a wildfire engulfing Malden, Lahaina, or Altadena, the COVID pandemic, or a myriad of smaller scale disasters that impact individuals, families, and communities, nonprofits are there. While the term “safety net” has fallen out of favor, it does a good job of helping people visualize the web of connections that nonprofits weave to catch people at times of crisis.

When disaster strikes, nonprofits mobilize volunteers and emergency response professionals, accept and administer funds to help those who are affected, set up shelters and food distribution, rebuild housing, and more. Nonprofits like the Okanogan Long Term Recovery Project, formed after the Carleton Complex fires in 2014, continue to support communities for years or decades afterward, knowing that full recovery take time. Thank you to all the nonprofits who go the extra mile during emergencies—you are saving lives!