Storm and Fire Survivors Rally for Urgent Disaster Recovery Funds at U.S. Capitol

Rally of Survivors Demanding Disaster Recovery Funding

On December 11, 2024, a powerful gathering took place on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol as over fifty survivors of storms and fires united to demand comprehensive disaster recovery funding. Organized by Organizing Resilience, the event showcased testimonies from individuals across the nation, including survivors from Florida, Georgia, Hawai'i, New Jersey, North Carolina, Texas, and Louisiana, who have been deeply affected by the lack of adequate relief efforts and funding delays that followed devastating natural disasters.

Senator Andy Kim (D-NJ) spoke at the event, emphasizing the awareness of the long-term impacts disasters like Superstorm Sandy and Hurricane Ida have on families, stating, "I've worked with organizations like the NJOP to secure resources for those still recovering years later. We need federal action to support communities impacted by the worsening climate crisis and severe natural disasters."

Survivors shared their heart-wrenching accounts that spotlighted a persistent issue: the insufficient speed and effectiveness of current recovery mechanisms. Tara Boyd, a Hurricane Ian survivor, vividly recounted her terrifying experience during the storm and the frustrations she faced with the recovery system. "On the night Hurricane Ian destroyed our home, my husband—still recovering from a massive stroke—held me up... dodging debris in surge waters," she explained.

Days after the storm, when Boyd returned to find her home gone, she encountered an even greater challenge: navigating the chaotic system meant to assist her and her family. "The aftermath was worse than the storm itself. I want to ensure that future survivors receive adequate support to rebuild their lives and communities."

Meanwhile, Krizhna Bayudan, a survivor of the 2023 Lahaina Fire, highlighted the intense difficulties faced by families in the wake of such disasters. She stressed, "The fire that destroyed my family's home has left us grappling with skyrocketing rents and dwindling resources. The Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funding is crucial for filling the gaps left by FEMA and insurance companies."

The voices of these survivors resonate with urgency, pushing for permanent authorization and full funding of HUD's CDBG-DR program to address the inadequacies of existing aid systems. Their demands also include replenishing FEMA's disaster relief efforts and making new programs retroactively available for all affected since 2021.

As Congress discusses funding measures, communities affected by storms and wildfires in both 2023 and 2024 continue to stress the need for an efficient recovery system. The survivors demanded that action be taken without delay, to ensure adequate support reaches those affected, preventing any further waiting for assistance post-disaster.

Organizing Resilience aims to change the way disaster response operates, advocating for rapid support to organizations on the ground and encouraging survivors to come together for long-term resilience. With such compelling stories and urgent demands being voiced, the hope for a more effective disaster recovery system is resonating through the air at the nation's Capitol, as survivors unite for their cause.