This hurricane season, United Way Miami is expanding its longstanding disaster preparedness efforts through United We Prepare, an initiative supported by Verizon that will help more Miami-Dade residents prepare for hurricanes and other emergencies through community education, outreach and emergency preparedness resources.
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Locally, United Way serves as Miami-Dade County’s Emergency Support Function (ESF-15) partner at the Emergency Operations Center, helping coordinate volunteers and donations. The organization also leads Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD) and is an active member of CORE, the countywide coalition supporting all phases of disaster management.
“Preparing our community before disaster strikes is one of the most important investments United Way Miami makes. That’s why we’re expanding our preparedness efforts through United We Prepare, helping more families gain the knowledge, resources and supplies they need before the next storm,” said Symeria Hudson, president and CEO of United Way Miami. “For more than 20 years, we’ve helped communities prepare for and recover from disasters.
“Through Operation Helping Hands, we’ve raised and distributed more than $100 million to support disaster relief and recovery efforts, most recently assisting families affected by the earthquakes in Venezuela,” she said. “Our commitment begins long before an emergency and continues long after the crisis has passed because true recovery isn’t just about rebuilding homes and infrastructure. It’s about
strengthening resilience and ensuring no family faces a crisis alone.”
Through United We Prepare, more than 1,200 emergency preparedness kits will be distributed to residents in some of Miami-Dade County’s most hurricane-vulnerable communities. The initiative also features 10 heat and hurricane preparedness workshops hosted by The CLEO Institute and community distribution events focused on reaching neighborhoods most at-risk during hurricane season. Participants will receive emergency preparedness kits containing first aid supplies, LED flashlights, phone power banks, emergency blankets, batteries, non-perishable food, ponchos, waterproof bags, insect repellent, sunscreen and other essential items to help families remain safe before, during and after a storm.
Every month, the 2-1-1 Miami helpline connects an average of 5,000 residents to information and resources during challenging times.
Through partnerships like Verizon’s United We Prepare, it is doing more than preparing for storms, it is helping families gain peace of mind, protect what matters most and face the future with greater confidence and resilience.
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For more information about United Way Miami’s disaster preparedness efforts, upcoming workshops and preparedness resources, visit Miami Disaster Preparedness/Miami Prepares/United Way Worldwide
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