GWP would like to share the most recent information we have received from The Center for Disaster Philanthropy (CDP) and how funders can help in recovery after Hurricane Matthew.
Over the weekend, the post-tropical cyclone Matthew continued to assault North Carolina and the Southeast coast with heavy rains and sustained 75 mile an hour winds, resulting in storm surges and devastating flash floods. President Obama has declared a state of emergency in Georgia and Florida; South Carolina and North Carolina may soon follow suit.
There has been significant damage in impoverished Haiti and across the Caribbean and thousands of lives and livelihoods have been affected by the storm. The bridge connecting the affected area to Port au Prince has collapsed due to flooding and it is expected that flooding will exacerbate preexisting epidemics such as cholera, dengue fever, and Zika.
Based on CDP’s understanding of the region and this current storm, it is anticipated that water, sanitation, and hygiene needs along with food, housing, agriculture, and tourist livelihood rebuilding needs are going to be immense.
How can funders help?
CDP currently has three ways that the private funder community can get information and counsel on how to effectively respond to the hurricane:
- For current facts and stats on the disaster as well as to learn about funder and NGO response, please see the Hurricane Matthew disaster profile.
- CDP is co-hosting a webinar on Tuesday, October 11. The webinar will provide a comprehensive update on the Hurricane’s destruction. Register here: Hurricane Matthew Webinar.
- Please feel free to call CDP’s Disaster Hotline at 206.972.0187. Its staff will happily speak with you about how to allocate your resources (human, financial, and technical) to meet the needs of Hurricane Matthew-affected communities.
- Florida Philanthropic Network has created a resource page on its website where they’ll be sharing updates on what’s happening in Florida and how philanthropy is responding.
Additional Resources
- North Carolina Community Foundation Disaster Relief Fund
The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida and the Jessie Ball duPont Fund – have teamed up with United Way and the Jewish Federation of Jacksonville to launch the First Coast Relief Fund, which is now accepting donations.
- Bob Ottenhoff authored this blog “Did We Pass the Matthew Test?—a terrific read that looks at evacuations, the media, and Matthew’s path.
- The Disaster Philanthropy Playbook is free and available to assist funders with a host of strategies that funders can use to help communities. From Housing and Legal Services to Mental Health and Mitigation, the Playbook is an essential resource.
- Seeing ‘Nothing to Live For’ as Haiti Seeks a Body Count After Hurricane Matthew
- USAID Hurricane Matthew Fact Sheets
- Center for International Disaster Information
- Reliefweb’s Hurricane Matthew Page
- President Obama’s remarks on how to support Hurricane relief efforts in Haiti
- The Haiti Development Institute (formerly the Haiti Fund, which was formed following the devastating earthquake several years ago) is housed at The Boston Foundation is a resource for funders looking to provide funding through a highly vetted and reliable organization. HDI has been funding efforts for six years in Haiti and has direct connections with organizations on the ground in Haiti. You can view the statement from HDI below.
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 Haiti Development Institute - Hurricane Matthew Response Statement |