This National Hurricane Preparedness Week, The Home Depot Foundation committed to invest more than $5.5 million to support nonprofit organizations as they help communities prepare for, respond to and recover from natural disasters. This funding, in addition to the $3 million committed earlier this year for wildfire response in Southern California, brings the Foundation's support to $8.5 million so far for the 2025 disaster season.

"In 2024, our country experienced more than 27 natural disasters that incurred at least $1 billion each in losses," said Erin Izen, executive director of The Home Depot Foundation. "It's important that we not only work with our partners to provide relief in the immediate aftermath of a disaster, but also to help these communities prepare before a storm hits by making them more disaster-resistant."

As the country continues to feel the impacts of hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires and flooding, the Foundation is supporting several of its nonprofit partners as they prepare communities for future disasters. This includes working with Mercy Corps to equip "resilience hubs" and community centers in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands with critical emergency response items, while also supporting Inspiritus as it delivers specialized training to expand its volunteer pool and capabilities. Operation Blessing, a long-standing disaster relief partner that was critical to the Foundation's response in Asheville following Hurricane Helene, will use its grant to pilot a new First Responder and Kid Care Kit initiative in preparation for future disasters.

"During recent disaster response operations in Texas and the Los Angeles area, our teams would develop first responder kits while on-site. Our aim for this pilot program is to have them prepped and ready for future events. The 'Kid Care Kits' will include coloring books and snacks as well as a stuffed animal to help provide comfort to children who have faced the trauma of witnessing a natural disaster," said Diego Traverso, senior director of global disaster response for Operation Blessing. "With this renewed support from The Home Depot Foundation, we're able to get ahead of what's needed when we're in the field, freeing up our teams to help with clean-up, provide hot meals and deliver other core relief services." 

While preparedness is a crucial component of disaster response, many of the Foundation's partners will also focus on long-term recovery efforts for communities still rebuilding after damage sustained from past disasters. For example, nonprofit partner Rebuilding Together New Orleans will use its grant to fund repairs for at least 20 houses impacted by Hurricane Ian, helping families to live safely in their homes. Habitat for Humanity of Butte County will support long-term fire recovery and mitigation efforts in Northern California, and in addition to serving at least 800 communities in the aftermath of a disaster, Team Rubicon and the Foundation will partner to provide skilled trades training to 9,000 more volunteers and rebuild 20 homes destroyed by previous storms.  

Additional funds from these grants will support ongoing disaster response and long-term rebuilding efforts with American Red Cross, Convoy of Hope, Community Foundation Santa Cruz County, World Central Kitchen and Habitat for Humanity International, including pre-positioning supplies, purchasing bulk food and delivering shelter as well as financial and emotional support for families impacted by natural disasters.