Natural disasters

The Latest

A Mary statue stands amid the remains of the Greany home in Louisville, Colo., following the Marshall Fire.

'Hail Full of Grace!': Colorado resident pens reflection after losing home in Marshall Fire

Jan 5, 2022

By Denver Catholic

On Dec. 30, a fast-moving wildfire destroyed approximately 1,000 homes and structures in Louisville, Superior and unincorporated Boulder County. Among... Read more

Smoke from the 2021 Boulder County fire over Superior, Colo., Dec. 30, 2021.

Archbishop Aquila opens parishes, launches emergency fund for victims of Colorado wildfires

Dec 31, 2021

By Alejandro Bermudez

Archbishop Samuel Aquila of Denver announced on Friday the establishment of an emergency fund to assist victims of the most... Read more

A Marian statue stands before Resurrection Catholic Church in Dawson Springs, Ky., after the church was heavily damaged by a tornado Nov. 11, 2021.

Despite Kentucky tornadoes, Virgin Mary statue still stands—and Catholics offer help

Dec 13, 2021

By Kevin J. Jones

The deadly storms that hit nine states in the Midwest and the South produced an image of a statue of... Read more

A Ventura County Fire Department Firehawk on the helispot recently installed on the campus of Thomas Aquinas College, outside Santa Paula, Calif.

Thomas Aquinas College builds helipad to assist in fighting wildfires

Dec 8, 2021

By Jonah McKeown

Four years after a massive wildfire threatened the school, a Catholic college in southern California has installed a helipad on... Read more

Louisiana National Guardsmen rescue people in LaPlace, Louisiana, in the aftermath of Hurricane Ida. More than 6,000 members of the National Guard from more than a dozen states were in Louisiana assisting state and federal partners with relief efforts.

Louisiana schools closed amid prayers for survivors in the wake of Hurricane Ida

Sep 1, 2021

By Jonah McKeown

At least one Catholic church in New Orleans has opened its doors to serve as an emergency shelter amid widespread... Read more

Caritas Merida assists in solidarity work after heavy rains in the Venezuelan state. Credit: Caritas Merida.

Venezuelan bishops criticize National Guard for obstructing aid to victims of rains, landslides

Aug 31, 2021

By David Ramos

The Venezuelan bishops’ conference criticized on Monday the Venezuelan National Guard for hindering the work of providing humanitarian aid to... Read more

A tent camp in Haiti.

US bishops welcome resumption of temporary protections for Haitian migrants

May 24, 2021

By CNA Staff

The chairs of the US bishops’ committees on migration and international justice and peace on Monday commended the Biden administration’s... Read more

Damage in Joplin, Mo., several days after the 2011 tornado. Credit: Bob Webster via Flickr (CC BY 2.0).

Missouri parish remembers those killed in historic tornado, ten years on

May 24, 2021

By CNA Staff

A Catholic parish in Missouri this week held a memorial service for those killed ten years ago when a massive... Read more

A truck drives south on I-75 in Allen, Texas, U.S., on Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2021.

Texas Catholics press through winter storm to help neighbors

Feb 18, 2021

By Jonah McKeown

Amid a winter storm that brought freezing temperatures and widespread power outages to much of Texas, Catholics are stepping up... Read more

Pope Francis prays with journalists on the papal flight to South Korea, Aug. 14, 2014.

Pope Francis prays for victims of glacier-caused flash flood in India

Feb 10, 2021

By CNA Staff

Pope Francis has voiced his prayers for the victims of a glacier-caused flash flood in India’s northern Uttarakhand state, as... Read more

A pregnant woman is carried out of an area flooded by Hurricane Eta in Planeta, Honduras, Nov. 5, 2020.

After hurricanes, Honduran nationals in US gain protections against deportation

Dec 8, 2020

After several Central American countries were hit hard by hurricanes Iota and Eta, the Department of Homeland Security has extended... Read more

St. Vincent de Paul parish in Davenport, California, surrounded by an orange glow from an approaching fire. Photo provided by the Diocese of Monterey.

Wildfires wreaking ‘profound damage’ in multiple California dioceses

Aug 22, 2020

By Mary Farrow

As wildfires rage across California, scorching more than 700,000 acres of land in multiple dioceses and killing at least four... Read more

Bush fire in Australia.

New disaster relief initiative unveiled in Australia

Feb 1, 2020

Catholic leaders in Australia have announced the creation of a new disaster response initiative to aid those affected by devastating... Read more

Damage caused by a Jan. 7, 2020 earthquake in Puerto Rico.

Archbishop calls for prayer, solidarity after Puerto Rico earthquakes

Jan 8, 2020

In the wake of a series of earthquakes that left at least one dead, multiple injured and some 300,000 without... Read more

Australian bushfire.

As fires continue to burn, Australian bishop calls for prayer, support

Jan 5, 2020

As fires throughout parts of Australia continue to worsen, the Archbishop of Melbourne called for prayers and encouraged Catholics to... Read more

Pope Francis meets with victims of Japan’s 2011 ‘triple disaster’ Nov. 25, 2019.

Meeting with disaster victims, pope says human suffering demands a response

Nov 24, 2019

By Hannah Brockhaus

In a meeting Monday with people affected by Japan’s 2011 “triple disaster,” Pope Francis criticized society’s indifference toward the suffering... Read more

California wildfire.

Archbishop Gomez asks for prayers for those impacted by Calif. fires 

Oct 28, 2019

As 16 wildfires continue to incinerate thousands of acres of land in California, destroying businesses and homes, Archbishop Jose Gomez... Read more

Women in Angola. Africa.

As Angola drought continues, Catholic Church calls for emergency declaration

Oct 15, 2019

As a severe drought continues to devastate regions of Angola, the Catholic Church in the country is asking the government... Read more

Saddleridge Fire, Los Angeles County.

In face of California fire, LA archdiocese expands fund for victims

Oct 15, 2019

As a large fire continue to burn in southern California, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles has expanded one of its... Read more

Flooding along the Ganges River Aug 21, 2019.

Amid efforts to rebuild, residents of Karala face another round of floods

Aug 23, 2019

Just a year after devastating floods swept through Kerala, India, the state is again facing devastating flooding.  Read more