As hurricane season approaches, The Home Depot Foundation is supporting community preparedness and recovery efforts by investing more than $5.5 million in grants to nonprofit partners focused on disaster resilience, response, and long-term rebuilding.
The grants, combined with mitigation training for partner organizations, are intended to support communities through the full disaster cycle: preparedness, emergency response, and recovery.
Disaster preparedness and response approach
Beyond philanthropy, The Home Depot activates a Disaster Response Command Center during major disasters. The center coordinates real-time communication between teams, affected stores, and suppliers, with more than 100 experts mobilized ahead of storms.
This system is designed to support communities from immediate relief through long-term recovery, combining logistics capacity with resilient building practices.
Key areas of investment
The $5.5 million in grants will fund multiple initiatives, including:
- Habitat for Humanity International projects to repair, rehabilitate, and build homes in Georgia, Louisiana, California, and Iowa
- Team Rubicon training for 8,000 volunteers and completion of 100 home repairs
- Operation Blessing mobile “energy hub” providing WiFi and charging access during disasters
- Inspiritus warehouse development in South Georgia and volunteer training for response efforts
- Maintenance of a 450-unit housing complex in Hawaii for residents displaced by the 2023 Lahaina wildfire
- A “Strong Homes” program with the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH) to train construction managers in resilient building standards
- Support for organizations including the American Red Cross, Convoy of Hope, World Central Kitchen, and Appalachia Service Project
Focus on resilience, not just recovery
The Foundation emphasizes disaster mitigation and long-term resilience, noting that the U.S. experiences an average of 23 billion-dollar disasters annually. Research cited in the announcement suggests that every $1 spent on hazard mitigation can save about $6 in future recovery costs.
Erin Izen, executive director of the Foundation, highlighted the need to address both immediate recovery and long-term preparedness, especially in communities still rebuilding from past disasters.
Long-term recovery examples
One example cited is recovery efforts in Pensacola, Florida, where Habitat for Humanity completed repairs nearly six years after Hurricane Sally (2020). Local partners noted that sustained funding helped restore homes, reduce lingering damage, and improve safety and stability for low-income families.
