Disaster Recovery & Resiliency

Greater Houston Community Foundation works with United Way of Greater Houston to help Houstonians recover from disasters. Together, they launched the Greater Houston Disaster Alliance to build year-round disaster preparedness across the region. Since 2005, the two organizations have distributed over $250 million in disaster relief. Funded by a $1.5 million investment from Enbridge and Phillips 66, the Alliance connects donors, nonprofits, and local leaders to respond quickly and support vulnerable neighbors.

Providing meaningful support to our community when our neighbors need it most. Greater Houston Community Foundation proudly serves as a resource and collaborative partner during great hardship, helping donors provide immediate and long-term disaster relief to Houstonians in need. Together, we can work toward effective recovery and increased resiliency in the communities we serve. In partnership with United Way of Greater Houston, Greater Houston Community Foundation launched the Greater Houston Disaster Alliance to strengthen year-round disaster preparedness and ensure that our region has the social services network and systems in place to respond rapidly and effectively in times of disaster. Making a Difference Together. “Working with United Way of Greater Houston and the Greater Houston Community Foundation in response to the winter storm allowed us one of the quickest responses to a major disaster that The Restoration Team has participated in. As an emerging organization in disaster recovery, knowing that these organizations had our backs allowed us to continue to help people recover from the storm using a grant from the HHC-WSRF. With this support, The Restoration Team will double our impact in 2021!” Trevor Barnett (The Restoration Team - Director) “Here in Harris County, when we get knocked down, we get back up, dust ourselves off and get to work right away to help our neighbors. I’m pleased to partner with Mayor Turner, the Greater Houston Community Foundation, and the United Way to provide another source of support for our community. This fund will lean on groups with deep experience providing recovery support to help as many people as we can.” Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo “The Winter Storm was hard on many families but was especially hard on low-income families. Thanks to the rapid response of the [Greater Houston Community Foundation] Fund, we were able to connect needy families with home repair organizations in record time. The Fund’s support of a coordinated, human-centered response focused on the strengths of each organization which meant that more families got help more quickly than in any other previous local disaster response.” Elena White (Executive Director, Connective) Strengthening Disaster Preparedness Year-Round Greater Houston Community Foundation and United Way of Greater Houston launched the Greater Houston Disaster Alliance to strengthen year-round disaster preparedness and ensure that our region has the social services network and systems in place to respond rapidly and effectively in times of disaster. This new initiative brings together a combined 35 years of experience in philanthropic disaster response efforts. Leveraging our shared experience, this critical partnership intends to significantly enhance our region’s ability to cope with disasters, enable better allocation of time and resources during times of disaster, and ultimately, increase the speed and quality of recovery for our most vulnerable neighbors. Greater Houston Community Foundation and United Way of Greater Houston have distributed over $250 million in disaster relief support since 2005. It is critical we invest in the systems and processes that allow us to effectively raise and distribute these resources quickly following a disaster, outside of when we are actively responding to a disaster. The launch of the Greater Houston Disaster Alliance is made possible by a combined $1.5 million investment from Enbridge and Phillips 66. The Disaster Alliance is focused on maintaining and strengthening year-round disaster preparedness and recovery. “We know that in the aftermath of a disaster such as Hurricane Harvey or the COVID-19 pandemic, it takes a collaborative approach to support those who are restoring and rebuilding their lives. This strategic partnership will allow us to draw on the many strengths of both organizations in fundraising, disaster response analysis, and grantmaking to support as many vulnerable neighbors as possible.” Stephen D. Maislin President & CEO, Greater Houston Community Foundation How Greater Houston Community Foundation Has Supported the Houston Area As one of Houston’s leading grantmakers, Greater Houston Community Foundation is well-positioned to identify needs and invest in a validated network of agency partners throughout the Greater Houston region. We have strong partnerships with the City of Houston, Harris County, United Way of Greater Houston, nonprofit organizations, local governments, and donors that help us respond quickly and efficiently during disaster response efforts. In addition to partnering with nonprofits, we partner with businesses looking to provide financial assistance to employees who have experienced losses from federally qualified disasters. Our experience with employee disaster relief funds makes it possible to establish a disaster response fund quickly, working to relieve affected employees as fast as possible. We help with everything from establishing eligibility requirements to managing the grant application process and distributing grant payments in accordance with IRS guidelines. Although previous years brought many hardships for the greater Houston region, including Hurricane Harvey, COVID-19, and the 2021 Winter Storm, it also allowed us to work collaboratively with those around us to create a long-lasting impact. No matter what happens, we are here, ready to serve the community we call home. Learn more about our Community Impact initiatives. Disaster Funds We’ve Administered Hurricane Beryl Recovery Fund On July 8, 2024, Hurricane Beryl made landfall south of Houston as a Category 1 hurricane, bringing significant winds and leaving 2.6 million people without power, hundreds of thousands of them for more than a week. On July 12 and 13, 2024, President Joseph R. Biden approved a Major Disaster Declaration (4798-DR) for Fort Bend, Harris, Montgomery, and Waller counties, making federal assistance available to support local recovery efforts. In total, the Hurricane Beryl Recovery Fund raised $6.1 million, thanks to the generosity of many individuals, corporations, and foundations. Severe Weather & Derecho Recovery Fund In April and May 2024, floods, straight-line winds, and tornadoes affected the Houston region, causing nearly one million people to be displaced from their homes or left without electric power for days to weeks. On May 18, 2024, former President Joseph R. Biden approved a Major Disaster Declaration for these combined events impacting multiple counties, including Harris, Montgomery, and Waller counties, making federal assistance available to support local recovery efforts. In total, the Severe Weather & Derecho Recovery Fund raised nearly $3.1 million to support more than 6,400 people in 2,000 families, thanks to the generosity of so many individuals, corporations, and foundations. COVID-19 Recovery Funds During a time of unexpected hardship, Greater Houston Community Foundation was honored to administer the $17 million Greater Houston COVID-19 Recovery Fund with the United Way of Greater Houston. Together we invested in trusted nonprofit partners who could help 278,207 individuals living across Fort Bend, Harris, Montgomery, and Waller counties. We also joined forces with Harris County to establish the $30 million Harris County COVID-19 Relief Fund (Fund). This Fund provided short-term emergency economic relief directly to our vulnerable neighbors struggling financially due to the pandemic. The Winter Storm Relief Fund In response to the Winter Storm of 2021, Greater Houston Community Foundation and United Way of Greater Houston established the Houston Harris County Winter Storm Relief Fund in partnership with the City of Houston and Harris County. The Fund has helped meet the need of local families who need help with plumbing and home repairs, temporary housing, and financial assistance. Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund When Hurricane Harvey struck Texas, Greater Houston Community Foundation partnered with Mayor Sylvester Turner and former County Judge Ed Emmett to create the Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund. Since then, we have continued our efforts to maintain the programs that aid those affected by this natural disaster. The Fund disbursed $114 million to 126 nonprofits serving Houston residents affected by this historic storm. Additional Funds: Imelda Assistance Fund 2019 Tax Day Flood 2016 Memorial Day Flood 2015 Hurricane Ike 2008 Hurricane Katrina 2005 Tropical Storm Allison 2001