When World Renew Disaster Response Services (DRS) conducts unmet needs assessments, disaster survivors enter walk-in centres carrying the burden of their post-disaster circumstances. Thankfully, they can trust that people empathize with their stories and that organizations are ready to help. DRS witnesses this powerful exchange of information and hope.
In Eastern Kentucky, catastrophic flooding impacted more than 10,000 homes in July 2022. Within days, fast-moving floodwaters destroyed entire homes and damaged communities. Emergency boat rescues and helicopters helped save residents from rising waters, but when survivors returned weeks later, many faced devastating losses.
While relief organizations provided immediate assistance such as food, water, and clothing, many people—including *Stacy—continue to search for solutions to ongoing housing challenges.
Unmet Needs Assessments Bring Hope After Disaster
Working alongside Pike County Relief Services, Ron Bouwkamp interviewed Stacy during a DRS unmet needs assessment in Eastern Kentucky. Mold spread throughout Stacy’s home after the flood, while mud infiltrated the furnace ducts and septic system. At the same time, Stacy was caring for her husband, who has lupus, while the family relied on their son’s disability income.
These overlapping challenges felt overwhelming.
Thankfully, after meeting with a DRS unmet needs assessment team, Pike County assigned a caseworker to verify Stacy’s needs and determine the next steps toward recovery.
Not far away, flooding displaced **Ronda from her mobile home. While moving into a temporary trailer provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Ronda experienced severe breathing problems that became life-threatening. Although she received an oxygen tank at the hospital, the issue continues to affect her daily life.
With the information Ron collected during Ronda’s unmet needs assessment, Pike County Relief Services hopes to help relocate Ronda into safe and stable housing.
“It’s difficult to hear about the challenges survivors experience,” Ron shared. “But we know that, in each exchange between survivor and volunteer, because of the effective work of long term recovery groups, hope can be found.”
Supporting Long-Term Recovery in Eastern Kentucky
DRS volunteers identified unmet needs in Pike and Floyd counties totaling more than $8 million for 132 homeowners.
Long-Term Recovery Groups use information gathered through unmet needs assessments to develop next steps for each household, connecting survivors with state or federal resources and support from foundations and community partners.
Pike and Floyd counties’ long-term recovery efforts following this flooding disaster will help bring positive change for homeowners like Stacy and Ronda.
Continue the Journey to Recovery
You can support World Renew Disaster Response Services (DRS) and its unmet needs assessments, helping disaster survivors access the resources, guidance, and support they need to move from crisis to recovery.
Through DRS, World Renew partners with local communities and long-term recovery groups to identify needs, coordinate assistance, and help families rebuild after disasters. By connecting survivors with practical support and recovery resources, DRS helps ensure that hope continues long after emergency relief efforts end.
Whether through financial support or by serving as a volunteer, you can make a meaningful difference in the lives of people affected by natural disasters. Visit our North American Disaster Response page to learn more about this work, or explore opportunities to volunteer with World Renew and support recovery efforts firsthand.
*Names changed for privacy.
