Building Resilience: Staff Training Prepares Catholic Charities for 2025 Hurricane Season
On May 8, Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Raleigh brought together staff from across the Central and Eastern North Carolina for a comprehensive hurricane preparedness tabletop training. Held at the Eastern Baptist Association in Rose Hill, the event was a vital step in reinforcing the agency’s commitment to providing timely and effective disaster response services to local communities.
The training brough together 37 staff members representing all eight regional offices, along with representatives from the Communications and Development departments. Together, they reviewed past response efforts, identified gaps in preparedness, and strategized ways to better support families in times of crisis.
The day began with a “Hurricane 101” session delivered by Steven Pfaff and Erik Heden of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Their expert insights provided essential context about storm behavior, warnings, and the critical nature of preparation, reinforcing the reality that for coastal North Carolina, the question is “when, not if.”
Throughout the day, teams participated in a series of discussion modules simulating scenarios that could unfold in the immediate hours, weeks, and months following a major hurricane. These discussions helped staff refine procedures for managing bulk supply distribution, volunteer coordination, survivor engagement, and equitable service delivery in the face of a natural disaster.
Emilie Hart, Cape Fear Regional Director, reflected on the significance of the event, sharing, “We have been actively responding to disasters since 2016. There have been large storms like Hurricane Matthew and Hurricane Florence, and smaller storms like the recent Tropical Cyclone 8. This tabletop exercise allowed us to come together with the full agency and reflect on our experience from past disasters and prepare for when the next storm hits our area.”
In addition to strengthening operations, the training emphasized the value of collaboration across regions. “This has been such a great team-building opportunity,” said Vicky Jiménez, Program Director for the Fayetteville Region. “We had valuable discussions with staff from other regional offices about how we can best support each other in times of disaster, and that gives me confidence heading into this upcoming hurricane season.”
As the 2025 hurricane season approaches, beginning June 1, Catholic Charities remains steadfast in its mission to serve vulnerable communities. Through continued training, strategic planning, and partnership, the agency stands ready to meet the challenges of tomorrow with compassion and resolve.