Responding to Recent Disasters

September 26, 2017

The following message was sent to members of the Yale community on Sept. 26 by Kimberly M. Goff-Crews, secretary and vice president for student life.

This has been a season of disasters across our country and the world. Once again, earthquakes and hurricanes have wrought destruction, this time in Mexico, and Puerto Rico and other Caribbean islands. Many in our community have ties to affected areas, and our thoughts are with all students, faculty, and staff who grieve losses and fear for the future, together with their families and friends. 

If you have been affected, and need assistance, please contact Student Mental Health and Counseling, the Chaplain’s Office, the Employee Assistance Program, a supervisor, dean, head of college, or another advisor.

As members of a university community committed to improving the world today and for future generations, I know that many of you are committing yourself afresh to act for the good of this world and its peoples. Natural disasters, we know, are not unrelated to human impacts on the environment, and their effects disproportionately affect poor and vulnerable populations. As we recognize together the current devastation in Mexico, Puerto Rico and the rest of the Caribbean, and the continuing impact of hurricanes and other disasters elsewhere in our country and our world, I take encouragement from the ways your research and scholarship, education, preservation, and practice can serve humanity.

In the “Responding to Disasters” portal of Yale Connect, you will find information submitted by members of our community, including details of relief organizations. (Yale Connect is accessible to anyone with a NetID. You may be prompted to complete a basic profile.) I invite you to share your knowledge and expertise with our community though Yale Connect. To do so, please send details to secretary.office@yale.edu.