One billion dollars.

$1 billion was reported as the estimated cost of the recovery from an historic August 2014 flood in Detroit, Michigan.

“The Detroit flood was the largest U.S. disaster in 2014. The entire Detroit metropolitan area was hit by heavy rain that caused considerable flooding and damage,” said Doug Guikema, a regional manager for World Renew Disaster Response Services (DRS). “About 129,000 households requested financial assistance from the federal government in that disaster.”

Shortly after the flood happened, World Renew DRS sent volunteers to help survivors muck out their homes over a six-week period. 

Since then, World Renew DRS has been lending its 40-plus years of experience to the area’s long-term recovery group, sharing advice, best practices, and the services World Renew offers.

One critical aspect of any recovery is identifying the vulnerable people in a community to ensure they are cared for. This includes not only identifying who needs help, but also what help is needed. World Renew DRS provides Unmet Needs Assessments to do just that.

“We will go door to door in East Detroit to ask survivors what their flood-related household, emotional, and financial needs are,” Guikema said. “We will determine the amount of damage, the repairs that are still needed, and whether mold is growing in the home. This information is given to local case workers who ensure that the residents get follow up and their needs are met.”

World Renew DRS is also sending volunteers to Detroit to help with reconstruction, like the group from Forest Hills Presbyterian Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

“The best part of our week of service with World Renew DRS was getting to know Pam, the homeowner on whose house we worked on,” said David Hoogenboom, a World Renew DRS volunteer from the church. “We hung drywall, and mudded and painted the basement. After we left, she sent us this note:

  • ‘Words can't express enough how blessed and fortunate I am to have had your wonderful volunteer group from Grand Rapids, Michigan, leave their families and jobs to give their time to work so hard to put my basement back together! I have to say that this space in my home will be better than before the flood destroyed it all. It’s the best not only because of the good work you did but because of the kindness and beauty within each and every one of your hearts! May God bless you the way that He blessed me with you!’

Consider a Mission Trip to Detroit
“One year later, hundreds of families are still waiting for help repairing their flooded homes,” says Ron Willett, World Renew DRS Director.  “If you’d like to organize a mission trip for your church, school, or family, we would be happy to help you.”

To plan a trip, please see Group Mission Trips at worldrenew.net/drs, where you will find information about the cost, accommodations, and other details about volunteering with World Renew DRS in the greater Detroit area.