About Us
Disaster Response Services was developed following the recovery efforts to assist persons affected by the devastating Gulf Coast hurricanes in 2005. In October 2005, a federal response and financial contract was established and the Catholic Charities of Arkansas Hurricane Recovery Office was formed to provide assistance to the thousands of Hurricane Katrina evacuees seeking refuge in Arkansas.
During the time of the contract, Catholic Charities of Arkansas developed a case management program, funded by the Diocese of Little Rock, Katrina Aid Today and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Volunteer parish disaster teams were trained in case management by disaster professionals from FEMA, Arkansas Department of Emergency Management, licensed social workers and other professionals employed by Catholic Charities of Arkansas. More than 40 parish disaster teams, comprised of 143 trained volunteer case managers, provided short- and long-term case management until that contract ended on April 30, 2008.
Building on the lessons learned while operating the Hurricane Recovery Office, there was a natural progression to continue the work of the parish disaster response teams, and so, Disaster Response Services was formed. The necessity to continue our ministry in disaster response became evident when the spring tornados and floods of 2008 resulted in a federal disaster declaration for 71 of Arkansas’ 75 counties. Additionally, Hurricanes Ike and Gustav brought thousands of Gulf Coast residents to once again seek refuge in Arkansas during that same year.
Today, Disaster Response Services is a ministry of the Parish Social Ministry Office. Its mission to respond to natural disasters as they occur and assist others in their recovery efforts continues. For information about how this ministry is responding to current disasters, go to Disaster Resources