Hurricane Florence is approaching the coast of the Carolinas, with a path predicted to lead inland where it could drop unprecedented rainfall before dissipating early next week. This storm is predicted to be catastrophic and a wide swath of states have already declared states of emergency. Some areas could see up to 40 inches of rain and storm surges in excess of 10 feet.
As you already know, CIL services are crucial to help people with disabilities regain independence after disasters. CILs provide needed housing assistance, help navigate changes to benefits that may occur, and cooperate and advocate with local, state, federal agencies that arrive to provide emergency assistance, but so often fail to provide accommodations to people with disabilities. But CILs can’t help if their own facilities are damaged or destroyed.
NCIL’s Disaster Relief Fund distributes money specifically to Centers for Independent Living or 501(c)(3) Statewide Independent Living Councils damaged or destroyed in disasters. NCIL does not distribute money to individual disaster victims, but rather, gives money to CILs and SILCs so that they can repair, replace, or rebuild facilities and equipment in the wake of a disaster. Support from the NCIL Disaster Relief Fund made all the difference for CILs in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the Iowa floods of 2008, and Hurricane Irma in 2017.
Since its inception in 2005, the Disaster Relief Fund has been funded by the generous support of NCIL members like you. 100% of these restricted funds will go towards the purpose outlined above. Please give what you can today.
