United Way of Palm Beach County connects our community to critical resources every day, whether local families need unexpected support for basic needs, or in response to a natural disaster like a hurricane. Our team is actively involved in supporting the county’s disaster-related volunteer needs, providing resources to help the nonprofit community prepare for and recover from disasters, and working closely with officials to develop a more effective disaster management plan.
We fund the 211 Helpline – a 24-hour-a-day, 365-day-a-year hotline service that provides information, assessment, advocacy, and referrals to appropriate community agencies for a variety of needs, as well as crisis intervention and suicide prevention.
United Way of Palm Beach County has a long history of preparing for and recovering from disasters. Following the devastation of Hurricane Andrew, United Way took a leadership role in the local response and recovery efforts. Shortly after, Palm Beach County Government named United Way as the lead agency for ESF-15 (Emergency Support Function 15 – Volunteers and Donations) in its Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan. Since that time, United Way has put that plan into action by responding to several hurricanes; Charlie, Francis, Jeanne, Wilma, Irma, Maria, Dorian and most recently, Hurricane Ian.
With the rise in occurrences of human-made disasters such as mass violence, United Way supports county Emergency Management’s all-hazard approach. Through these efforts, United Way is dedicated to ensuring all residents of Palm Beach County and our community partners are ready for the next crisis.
To view the ESF-15 Plan, please click here.
United Way of Palm Beach County is actively involved with disaster management efforts as the lead volunteer agency for Palm Beach County Emergency Management ESF-15, Volunteers, and donations. As such, United Way recruits and coordinates volunteers year-round to support the relief in the county before and after a disaster. That responsibility includes calling into action United Way’s trained and spontaneous volunteers and opening a Volunteer Reception Center (VRC) to mobilize volunteers.
View the latest Nonprofit Disaster Preparedness Workshop by Palm Beach County’s Long Term Recovery Coalition from May 2024. This webinar aims to help nonprofit agencies better prepare to help the community recover from a disaster. Information and resources were provided by Palm Beach County Emergency Management, National Weather Service, United Way of Palm Beach County, Disaster Funders Coalition, and Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County.
Access the recording here and enter password 0dk!!?qC
Disaster Preparedness Resources
Check out helpful information to ensure local families and our community are ready for a storm, and learn how United Way volunteers are activated after a storm.
