Neighbors First: Responding to Tornadoes and Extreme Heat in the Cape Fear Region
Disasters come in many forms, and no matter the scale or season, Catholic Charities shows up for neighbors in need. For our Cape Fear regional office, disaster response is not limited to hurricane season; it is a year‑round commitment defined by the realities of coastal living, from flooding and tornadoes to dangerously high temperatures. Each event brings its own challenges, but the mission remains constant: to provide compassionate, practical support when communities are most vulnerable.
That commitment was put into action starting early this year. Over Mother’s Day weekend, tornadoes struck Columbus County, leaving multiple homes damaged. These tornadoes impacted a small rural community, which meant there was never a state or federal disaster declaration. Without that declaration, government recovery funding was unavailable for those already facing traumatic instability. Catholic Charities stepped in to fill that gap. With a disaster grant from Catholic Charities USA, Catholic Charities staff worked directly with two uninsured families whose homes sustained significant damage, providing financial assistance, construction support, and recovery planning. Thanks to these efforts, both families were able to begin rebuilding their sense of normalcy.
Disaster Specialist Vickie Sasser shared her thoughts about the hierarchy of disasters, saying that, “what people have to understand is that regardless of the size, timing, or national declaration status, a disaster is still a disaster to someone. Every community deserves the same rallying of nationwide support and donations, but they certainly don’t all receive it. I’m grateful that when that gap appears, we can step in and give families the attention and help they deserve.”
Stories like this demonstrate why flexible, locally available resources are so important for low attention disasters. When limited donations come from the general public and government assistance is not available, Catholic Charities still finds a way to serve.
The ability of staff in the Cape Fear region to adapt proved vital again during the region’s next challenge: extreme heat. Over three intensely hot weeks in July, Catholic Charities emergency assistance and disaster staff collaborated to support unhoused neighbors across the Cape Fear region. For someone living outside or without reliable access to air conditioning, even simple items can provide meaningful protection during dangerously high temperatures. Through supplies donated by generous supporters, staff distributed resources such as misting fans, liquid IV packets, produce, cooling towels, and ice packs to help individuals remain hydrated, reduce their body temperature, and avoid heat-related illness.
Emergency Assistance Specialist, Layla Perez, shared how impactful these efforts were, noting that the Wilmington office assisted around 350 individuals with summer cooling needs. She explained that staff “distributed donated items such as hydration kits provided by the United Way and hydrating fruits and pastries from Costco at our mobile laundry services, through community partners, and directly to neighbors’ encampments.” Perez added that “Those who accepted the cooling towels instantly wet them and placed them around their necks. They also appreciated confirmation of which agencies were open and available for cooling and water access.”
“We are grateful to everyone who donated supplies,” shared Perez. “Catholic Charities was able to protect some of the region’s most vulnerable neighbors during these dangerous heat events. With the support of donors and community partners, we can respond when other sources of assistance are unavailable and stop our neighbors from facing a crisis alone.
