The firestorm in California has displaced hundreds of thousands of people — and swept away homes, memories and lives. As it so often does, Catholic Charities is stepping in to help:

While reports of the fires raging through Southern California are making today’s headlines, they are also making tomorrow’s headaches for those directly affected by this wide-spread catastrophe. Thousands of Californians are now evacuated from their homes and many of them will have no place to return. Catholic Charities in San Diego, Los Angeles and San Bernardino/Riverside are coordinating disaster relief efforts with other Catholic and local agencies in order to determine the relief efforts that will be needed to meet the emergency.

In Florida, the same situation exists, as Catholic Charities of Northwest Florida has been assisting families who had lost their homes in last week’s storms and tornado that raged through the panhandle last week.

“Catholic Charities USA’s Office of Disaster Response is working closely with local agencies to ensure that our network has the tools and resources it needs to respond to these disasters,” said Kim Burgo, director of disaster response for Catholic Charities USA. “We anticipate making emergency grants available to our agencies to support their immediate efforts.”

Catholic Charities was formed in 1910 to assist in the establishment of diocesan bureaus that would encourage professional social work practice from a catholic perspective among professionals, “to bring a sense of solidarity” among those in charitable ministries, and to be the “attorney for the poor.”

Our thoughts and prayers go out to all those in California. Pray for rain.

Photo: from the Associated Press