Hundreds of deaths and immeasurable destruction were caused last year by natural disasters, and through it all, Catholics in the United States offered steadfast support to those impacted.
In the United States alone, there were at least 24 confirmed weather/climate disaster events with losses exceeding $1 billion each in 2024, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Among the U.S. disasters tracked by NOAA were “17 severe storm events, 4 tropical cyclone events, 1 wildfire event, and 2 winter storm events,” according to the agency’s website. “Overall, these events resulted in the deaths of 418 people and had significant economic effects on the areas impacted.”
Last year, New Jersey alone responded to more than 1,200 wildfires, exasperated by a fall season that brought record-low rainfall.
Among the agencies that respond to such disasters is Catholic Charities USA – including the local agency from the Diocese of Camden.
“The amount of things that encompass a disaster, you wouldn’t even understand until you are involved,” said Maurice Orlando, Supportive Services for Veteran Families program administrator with Catholic Charities South Jersey. Orlando was among those from the Diocese to attend the northeast regional national disaster aid conference run by Catholic Charities USA last year.
“It’s one thing to be without water or without electricity, but it’s entirely another to be without a home. To have all of your belongings gone,” Orlando said.
Among the information learned at the training conference: building relationships and partnering with local agencies; best communications practices; how to take charge in an emergency; handling recovery and trauma, and navigating state and federal aid.
“It really is like a chess game. You have to educate yourself so that when a natural disaster hits, you know how to react,” Orlando said.
He relayed how agencies cannot duplicate assistance already received in a national disaster. For example, if a person has received monies from the state after a hurricane, the Federal Emergency Management Agency will deduct those monies from the amount it disperses to that person. If a person hires a contractor to repair a home destroyed by wildfires, recipients and photos will need to be shown to receive reimbursement.
“This information is more relevant than ever. We see disasters like this in our hometowns,” Orlando said.
To learn more about Catholic Charities USA disaster relief, visit catholiccharitiesusa.org/what-we-do/disaster-relief.
To learn more about Catholic Charities Diocese of Camden, visit catholiccharitiessouthjersey.org.
OSV News contributed to this report.
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