Two and a half years after Hurricane Florence, one year into a pandemic and economic recession, our community is suffering the compounding effects of several major crises. As we respond to these events, we’re more aware than ever how important it is to prepare in advance for future disasters. This is especially critical if we are to address the vulnerabilities that consistently lead to more severe impacts for some groups of people.

The role of the New Hanover Disaster Coalition is to enhance our collective recovery from disasters, while also becoming a more resilient and equitable community. We do this by supporting and connecting various nonprofit and faith-based entities, local governments, businesses, and engaged citizens. Through centralized communication and intentional partnerships, we help multiply resources, identify gaps in services and planning, reduce duplication of effort, and deepen our understanding of the needs served. In order to streamline this work, the disaster coalition is implementing a project-based approach for turning ideas into action through thoughtful, informed collaboration.

Brainstorm 2021 is where our community partners will discuss and prioritize disaster-related activities for the coming year and develop a shared understanding of project management. To learn more, view the event schedule and FAQs about who will be in attendance, what kinds of projects we support, and how the work will get underway after the summit.