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Disasters can strike in a heartbeat, with deadly force. Earthquakes, hurricanes, tsunamis, floods and volcano eruptions hold the power to change people’s lives forever.

The first 72 hours after a disaster matter immensely. Since World Vision has more than 34,000 staff in nearly 100 countries, we can be quick to the scene in an emergency. We can help children and families survive.

Here’s how our teams—local, national and global—mobilize to preserve life, provide critical essentials, and offer child protection in crisis.

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After 72 hours

As each emergency is unique, so is our response in the early days of aftermath. When transport and customs are straightforward, we may have food in people’s homes within those first three days. Other times, it takes longer.
Two things are consistent, no matter the disaster:

• Our communication, coordination and cooperation with other agencies. There’s no point in six NGOs turning up in the same tiny village to do the same job, while others are left unsupported.
• Our laser-like focus on children who are suffering. If we do everything right but forget the children, we have missed our main goal.

Once those 72 hours are over, World Vision digs in for the long haul. We stay to help communities survive, recover and rebuild for the future. This can involve months or even years of robust presence on the ground.
And—as we’ve proved hundreds of times over the past seven decades of emergency response—we’re more than up for the challenge.

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By now, local, regional and global staff who have reached the impacted area are working on many fronts. Not only are they caring for the survivors they have already reached. They check on children and families in more remote areas. This takes determination when roads are washed out or bridges destroyed.

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