Who Created Heartland Disaster Help?
Heartland Disaster Help is a project created by the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) to help residents in the Heartland of the United States prepare for potential disasters, including flooding, wind, fire, and extreme heat events. The website covers 10 inland states that have experienced significant disasters over the past decade – Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, and South Dakota. These states could face more frequent severe storms and disasters in the coming years.
As the nation’s largest single funder of civil legal aid, LSC operates as an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit that promotes equal access to justice. Through its grantees, LSC is familiar with the challenges low-income residents face when disasters damage their homes. Heartland Disaster Help provides a proactive resource to help residents lessen or prevent damage and better prepare for recovery from a range of threats.
The website allows residents to check their disaster risks by entering their address. It provides clear information and stories on steps to protect homes, families, and finances from flooding, high winds, fires, heat waves and more. This includes insurance options, what to do before and after an event, and local organizations that can help with preparation and recovery. Heartland Disaster Help also gives guidance on how communities can reduce disaster risks. The goal is to make inland residents more aware of the dangers and better prepared.