Hurricane Irma recovery

On Sept. 10, 2017, Hurricane Irma made landfall in Florida, causing widespread devastation, forcing thousands of people out of damaged homes and communities, and an estimated total of $50 billion in damages.

In the immediate aftermath of the hurricane, we assessed the damage and committed to helping hurricane-affected families over the next three to five years as part of our Habitat Hammers Back initiative. With the generous support of donors and more than 3,200 local volunteers, Habitat has made notable progress working with homeowners, other nonprofits and the public sector to help communities recover in the affected region.

We helped in the emergency phase, managing Hurricane Irma damage by cleaning out houses, undertaking the process of mold remediation, and assisting homeowners with insurance and FEMA processes, as well as other non-construction services. We are executing a long-term plan to address what has been deemed the worst housing crisis caused by disasters in our nation’s history.

For more Hurricane Irma update information, read our one-year hurricane recovery progress report.

As we continue our disaster recovery work, we are operating on multiple fronts to meet local needs. We are confident that with your support, we will see more and more families back in their homes and restoring their lives with each passing month.

In the interest of encouraging families to prepare for the possibility of hurricanes and other natural disasters, Habitat has created a collection of resources available in both English and Spanish. Habitat Ready helps households make a family preparedness plan, put together a supply kit and be ready to respond to common hazards in their community.