Catholic Charities works in close cooperation with the U.S. Catholic Bishops' National Disaster Response Network, Catholic Charities USA, and Catholic Relief Services.

Catholic Charities USA, which has been commissioned by the U.S. Catholic Bishops to represent the Catholic community in times of domestic disaster, responds with emergency and long-term assistance as needed. Its Disaster Response Office connects the Church’s social service agencies and disaster planning offices across the nation.  Catholic Relief Services, the official US Catholic Bishops' overseas relief and development agency, is the coordinating office for US Catholics' response to overseas disasters. 

Monetary donations are always welcome to support the ongoing work of the local, national, and global Church community in need of immediate disaster relief and long term reconstruction after a disaster. All donations can be mailed to:

Diocese of Youngstown
Office of Social Action
Attn: Please State Disaster Relief Effort/Fund You Wish to Support
144 W. Wood Street
Youngstown, Ohio 44503

For more information or questions pertaining to any of the Disaster Relief efforts listed, please contact Brian Corbin at 330-744-8451 ext. 320

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CURRENT DISASTER RELIEF ACTIVITIES

* CRS 2007 Hurricanes Noel, Dean and Felix; CRS Peruvian Earthquake Relief;  CRS South Asia and African Floods; Cyclone in Bangladesh

*  CCUSA 2007 Domestic Floods and Disaster General Relief Fund

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CATHOLIC CHARITIES USA RESPONDS TO VARIOUS U.S. FLOODS, CALIFORNIA FIRES AND DISASTERS

Catholic Charities USA, the official domestic Disaster Relief Agency of the US Catholic Bishops has forwarded tens of thousands of dollars to assist areas, like Texas, recover from the current waves of floods.

General donations to support the Disaster Work of Catholic Charities USA for domestic disasters can be sent to:  Catholic Charities/Domestic Disaster Fund, Office of Social Action, Diocese of Youngstown, 144 W. Wood Street, Youngstown, OH 44503.  For more information, contact Brian Corbin at 330-744-8451 ext. 320.

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 CRS RESPONDS TO ASIAN FLOODS, PERUVIAN EARTHQUAKE, AND HURRICANES

Catholic Relief Services (CRS), the official overseas relief and development agency of the United States Catholic Bishops, in response to massive flooding and destruction to areas throughout South Asia and Africa, the earthquakes that devastated areas in Peru and Indonesia, and the areas affected by Hurricane Noel (Nov 2007) in Mexico and the Caribbean, Dean (Summer 2007) in the Caribbean and Mexico, and Hurricane Felix in Honduras and Nicaragua has committed to relief efforts throughout these regions.  

Bangladesh Cyclone (November 2007)

Catholic Relief Services is responding to the devastating cyclone that swept through southern Bangladesh on Thursday, November 15. Thousands of people were killed and tens of thousands of survivors are homeless. Right now, CRS and our partners are providing humanitarian assistance in Bangladesh.  CRS and our partner Caritas Bangladesh began food distribution on Saturday, November 17th. Before the storm hit, Caritas volunteers and staff issued warnings and prepared supplies of jerry cans and water purification tablets.  CRS and partners are providing kits that include shelter, bedding, cooking utensils and clean water.  CRS will be there for the long run.

Mexico Flooding in Tabasco (November 2007)

Situation:
A week of heavy rain in the southern Mexican state of Tabasco has brought on the worst flooding in recent memory. Some 80% of Tabasco, which is about the size of Maryland, is now under water.

More than one million people have been affected by the flooding, almost half of the state's population. As of Friday afternoon some 300,000 people were still awaiting rescue from their flooded homes. More rain is forecast for the coming days, compounding this already severe disaster.

CRS Response:
CRS has committed $1 million in response to the flooding, and is also releasing a further $500,000 for the flooding that has hit the nearby Caribbean nations of the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Cuba (see Emergency Brief #1: Tropical Storm Noel: Dominican Republic, Haiti, Cuba, issued Nov 1).

In Mexico, CRS partners Caritas Mexicana and Caritas Tabasco will work together to channel CRS’ support. Already, Caritas and Catholic parishes have set up supply centers to collect food, water and other emergency supplies. These will be distributed to the shelters and to communities which have not been evacuated.

"This is the worst disaster in Mexico's recent history. The rains are expected to continue so we think it will only get worse," said Erica Dahl-Bredine, CRS Country Representative in Mexico.

"Already we've seen that people are coming together in solidarity and support but we don't know a whole lot right now because there are so many people still trapped and waiting to be rescued. CRS will be working through the National Church network to provide food and water to those people and those who have been evacuated."

CRS has been supporting human development and humanitarian efforts in Mexico since the 1960s. In recent years, the agency has supported rural development and human rights projects in Chiapas and provided emergency assistance after disasters such as the 1985 earthquake in Mexico City.

CRS recently expanded its presence in Mexico to include both the southern and northern regions of the country. CRS currently operates a small program and representational office in Tucson, Arizona, from which it supports cross-border initiatives and partnerships as well as programs throughout Mexico. CRS also has a national project coordinator based in Mexico City. CRS works primarily in the northern and southern border regions of Mexico to:

• Provide services and support to migrants who are among the most vulnerable groups in the country
• Assist organizations of small farmers and workers, particularly those who have been most severely impacted by economic globalization trends
• Support programs that defend human rights and promote Peacebuilding.

CRS is already responding to flooding in the Caribbean area:

Dominican Republic:
CRS has put into place a joint emergency plan with Caritas. Needs assessments are being carried out in communities by Caritas and CRS staff. As an immediate response, water purification tablets, mosquito nets and five gallon containers of water are being distributed to accommodate more than 1,000 families.

CRS is also working to coordinate emergency relief efforts with other agencies such as USAID, FAO, Oxfam, Plan International, Red Cross, CEPAC, the Dominican Institute for Integral Development, Mujer y Salud as well as other European organizations.

Haiti:
CRS will coordinate relief efforts with Save the Children to provide hygiene and kitchen kits to 225 families in Oranger as well as logistical support for emergency relief for 175 families in Cabaret. We will also work with Caritas to provide food for 150 people in shelters in Leogane and some 252 more in Jacmel.

Cuba:
CRS will assist Caritas Cubana in its efforts to provide food, bedding materials and housing repairs to 150 poor families. Relief aid will be distributed through the local parishes and Caritas offices.