HCCF Launches Disaster Response Fund
The Huron County Community Foundation (HCCF) has launched a new Disaster Response Fund to support local communities impacted by future disasters.
“We’ve seen disasters across Michigan in the recent past: floods in Midland, a tornado in Gaylord, and an ice storm that devastated northern Michigan,” said Mackenzie Price, HCCF’s Executive Director. “We’ve also seen how communities rally in the face of these challenges, and we want to be of service here in Huron County should disaster strike.”
During the planning phase, HCCF met with first responders, the County’s Emergency Services Director, and the Health Department’s Emergency Preparedness Coordinator. “Our board has been discussing this fund and developing the framework since late 2024. We’ve worked closely with local partners and learned best practices from community foundations across the state and nation,” Price added.
The Disaster Response Fund is designed to be flexible, providing discretionary grants to first responders and local nonprofits assisting with response and recovery efforts. It will also serve as the primary site for monetary donations from community members and supporters nationwide who want to help. The fund will remain locally controlled and may be activated independently of state or federal disaster declarations. “Our local committee will work directly with first responders and affected communities to determine if the fund should be activated and how to best support recovery,” said Price.
For this fund, a disaster is defined as an event, natural or man-made or economic, which causes death and/or destruction on a scale that overwhelms the ability of the community’s resources to maintain stability, save lives, and preserve property. This definition reflects a key distinction: disasters overwhelm community resources. For example, while a single family house fire is tragic, it would not meet the threshold for activating the fund.
“We hope we never have to use this fund,” Price said. “But we’ve learned from our colleagues that it’s best to be prepared. Should disaster strike, HCCF is ready to use our expertise to help the community respond and recover.”
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If you’re interested in supporting Huron County’s proactive disaster response efforts, you can donate by clicking here and typing “Disaster” in the fund designation line.
You can also contact Mackenzie@huroncounty.com to learn more about the new fund.