Spotlight
Spring 2025
from disasters. This often happens months and even years after the rest of the world has forgotten that these disasters happened. This grateful response to how Christ has first loved us is the engine that powers DRS.
The way our volunteers work together tells the story of a loving God. Thanks be to God for the love He so generously fills our hearts with, for one another and for the neighbours we seek to serve well. By this love, people will see that we are Christ followers.
Devastating disasters such as tornadoes, floods, and hurricanes brought despair to many communities across North America in 2024.
Hurricane Helene, the deadliest and costliest disaster of the year in North America, struck viewers as we watched its category 4 winds batter Florida, causing 15 feet of storm surge along the Big Bend coast. Helene’s historic rainfall then travelled towards western North Carolina to cause destructive flooding.
While World Renew Disaster Response Services (DRS) is collaborating with longterm recovery partners to respond to Hurricane Helene, we praise God for the impact DRS volunteers have already made through our clean-up and needs assessment programs. Last October, DRS clean-up volunteers were welcomed by the city of Bluefield, West Virginia, to assist with hurricane cleanup. Because West Virginia did not receive federal funding to recover from Helene, we knew some communities would have needs. In fact, there were around 1,000 downed trees in Bluefield because of Hurricane Helene’s remnant 60mph winds.
In total, World Renew DRS volunteers helped 35 families clean up tree debris in yards
and throughout the community. This included assisting Emily (name changed), a homeowner whose backyard had tree debris. A large tree had fallen in her backyard, as well as another tree that fell in both her and her neighbour’s yard. “The volunteer work was wonderful,” Emily shared. “The volunteers were so friendly and kind while helping me, and they got the work done very quickly.” She was grateful for the help to recover from Helene.
While DRS clean-up volunteers laboured hard in the Appalachia region, our needs assessment team in Sarasota, Florida, was able to assist coastal Hurricane Helene survivors. Volunteers were planning to conduct surveys for Hurricane Debby survivors in the area when Hurricane Helene struck Florida just days before the Unmet Needs Assessment began.
Volunteers were able to intake clients of both disasters to collect information about their unmet needs from these storms. One of these survivors was Bill, a retired teacher and U.S. navy veteran. Bill and his wife relocated to Sarasota
after a life spent in Brooklyn, New York. Two feet of Helene’s floodwaters crept into their home, and they began to hear electrical units sparking throughout their home. After evacuating, they returned home to find their furniture and belongings damaged, the floors ruined, and other issues.
Thankfully, Bill reported these damages to DRS volunteers, and he could trust the information would be given to the Sarasota County Long Term Recovery Group for recovery efforts. After connecting with DRS and other recovery agencies at a Disaster Recovery Centre, Bill shared how important these resources are for disaster survivors: “After Helene, my wife and I were in trouble. As a former teacher of 35 years, I know what it’s like for your hard work to go unappreciated. When I see volunteer agencies here helping survivors, I must share how much I appreciate each one of you.”
As DRS prepares for a longterm response to Hurricane Helene, we thank our donors, volunteers, and partners for already working with us along the way. Together, we can rebuild lasting hope after disasters in Jesus’ name.
