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United States 

Episcopal Relief & Development’s USA Disaster Preparedness and Response Program inspires, connects and equips leaders in the Episcopal Church to prepare for all human- made and natural disasters that might affect their communities. The purpose is also to alleviate the impact of those crises, and to help the vulnerable make a full and sustained recovery. As a ministry, the USA Disaster Preparedness and Response Program works to ensure social justice for all peoples.

Responding to Disasters and Rebuilding Communities

• In 2009, Episcopal Relief & Development has worked with the Diocese of Kentucky in response to ice storms and with the Dioceses of Alaska, North Dakota, Western New York and Atlanta in response to floods.

• In 2009, Episcopal Relief & Development is responding to ongoing emergencies in the United States. For instance, the organization works with the Dioceses of Iowa and Indianapolis, which experienced severe flooding that caused evacuations and heavily damaged several cities. The agency's response includes providing immediate and long-term relief to victims by rebuilding homes and infrastructure in communities.

• The organization supports affordable housing initiatives that are rebuilding communities and providing access to low-interest mortgages for Katrina victims. Jericho Road Episcopal Housing Initiative in New Orleans creates community partnerships to rehabilitate neighborhoods, empower families and facilitate home ownership. Hallelujah Housing provides low-interest gap funding to enable families in affected Mississippi communities to rebuild or purchase a new home. 

• With assistance from Episcopal Relief & Development, volunteer housing rehabilitation programs continue to utilize the skills of volunteers to repair and rebuild homes destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. In Mississippi, Camp Coast Care and Mission on the Bay provide housing and meals for volunteers. In New Orleans, the Episcopal Community Services of Louisiana continues to rebuild homes for the most vulnerable residents of the city.

• In Houston, the organization's partner GRACE Community Services offers a spiritually enriching and educational environment for children to learn in. A primary goal is provide a holistic recovery process for children of disaster and those disenfranchised by poverty and other social dysfunctions.

• With Episcopal Relief & Development's aid, the Church of the Redeemer program in Mississippi provides space and financial support for affordable childcare and office space for the Interfaith Disaster Task Force, which distributes building supplies and household goods. It also provides a literacy course in conjunction with Mercy Housing and Human Services. 

• The Episcopal Diocese of Texas’s program in Galveston utilizes volunteers to clean-out and rebuild flood-damaged homes. In partnership with Galveston County Restore and Rebuild, the program assists poor, elderly and disabled homeowners. It works with eleven other faith-based recovery organizations renovating flood and storm damaged structures.