United Way of the Coastal Empire (UWCE) announced on Thursday that it activated the Rapid Response Disaster Fund for Chatham County.
Last year, United Way of the Coastal Empire launched formal partnerships with the emergency management agencies in Bryan, Chatham, Effingham and Liberties counties to support disaster recovery after an emergency. UWCE spearheads the fundraising efforts for the response and recovery, when each county’s EMA determines when the fund is necessary and should be activated. The funds are used to provide response and recovery support for impacted residents.
Chatham EMA has assessed the county’s needs and activated the fund, which will be allocated across the community for short-term relief and/or long-term recovery efforts as deemed necessary based on damage and needs.
“At United Way of the Coastal Empire, we mobilize the caring power of our community to improve lives. Through this partnership, our role is to harness that caring power by raising funds to address the immediate needs of our neighbors impacted by the storm and related flooding and support the long-term recovery of our community,” said UWCE President and CEO Kimberly Waller in a press release.
United Way, CEMA and the Coastal Empire Disaster Recovery Committee are also collecting information from Chatham County residents who have physical damage to their homes. Homeowners can call 1-844-965-1386 to register for voluntary agency assistance, although registration does not guarantee assistance.
Destini Ambus is the general assignment reporter for Chatham County municipalities for the Savannah Morning News. You can reach her at dambus@gannett.com
