Recovering from any disaster takes a group effort. And throughout history, women have been at the forefront of helping their communities after disaster strikes.

Research suggests that women are more inclined to stay put and not evacuate when Mother Nature is advancing, mainly because many women manage household responsibilities such as taking care of their family members like children and the elderly. Since severe weather impacts and disrupts women’s lives so greatly, it’s no surprise that many women are compelled to take matters into their own hands to help themselves, their families and their communities bounce back faster from disasters.

In honor of Women’s History Month, let’s celebrate women leading the disaster recovery charge.

Here’s a closer look at just some of the iconic women who began impactful disaster recovery movements, and the present-day women who are honoring their legacy.

Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross: At the onset of the Civil War, Clara Barton felt compelled to leave her job as a patent clerk and instead deliver supplies to Union soldiers in need. This sparked her lifetime commitment to aiding people in times of disaster.

After the war ended, she traveled across Europe and made her way to Switzerland. There, she first learned about the International Red Cross. Once she was back stateside, she formed the American Association of the Red Cross in 1881. In 1875, she also established the National First Aid Association of America. This organization prioritized emergency preparedness and developed first aid kits. To this day, the American Red Cross provides emergency assistance, disaster relief and preparedness education all over the U.S. 

First Ladies at the national and state levels:

  • First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt: While her husband Franklin D. Roosevelt was serving as President of the United States, First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt became one of the first women in U.S. history in emergency management. She helped establish the Office of Civil Defense to provide communities with health programs and medical care after an emergency event. 

The first lady was then appointed as Assistant Director of the office of the Secretary of Defense in 1941. This appointment made her the first woman in Homeland Security/Emergency Management -a groundbreaking feat for the era.

  • Florida First Lady Casey DeSantis: In the wake of Hurricane Ian, First Lady Casey DeSantis along with her husband created the Florida Disaster Fund to support the communities devasted by Hurricane Ian’s effects. Within the first 48 hours of launching the fund, donations reached over $20 million and will be used to help rebuild homes and buildings in the area and used toward other response and recovery priorities.

Avagene Moore, former president of the International Association of Emergency Managers: Avagene Moore was one of the first women to preside as president of the IAEM, a non-profit group dedicated to promoting the principles of emergency management and represent professionals who save lives and protect property and the environment in the face of emergencies and disasters worldwide.

She began working at the local emergency management level in Lawrence County, TN, and was part of the IAEM’s first class of Certified Emergency Mangers in 1993. Additionally, Moore founded the Emergency Information Infrastructure Project to encourage global collaboration for emergency managers and operated it for 17 years. She was inducted into the International Women in Homeland Security and Emergency Management Hall of Fame in 2011.

Deanne Criswell, 12th Administrator of FEMA: Deanne Criswell was confirmed by the Senate in 2021 as the Administrator of FEMA, making her the first-ever woman confirmed to serve in this role. As the Administrator, she leads the country’s efforts before, during and after severe weather events.

Before stepping into this role, she served in New York City as its Commissioner of its Emergency Management Department. Criswell managed the city’s emergency planning and response post-emergency. She also served for over 20 years as part of the Colorado Air national Guard, where she served two tours overseas after 9/11.

This month, and all year along, it’s important to recognize the groundbreaking women who helped and are currently helping their communities rebound quickly from disaster. While this list doesn’t encompass every woman rolling up their sleeves, we hope it can inspire others with these deserving programs that have been shaped by influential women.

Works cited:

https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/clara-barton
https://www.coehsem.com/women-in-emergency-management-continuing-to-break-barriers/
https://www.fema.gov/profile/deanne-criswell
https://www.iaem.org/About/In-Memoriam
https://www.iaem.org/About
https://www.floridadisaster.org/news-media/news/20220928-first-lady-desantis-announces-activation-of-florida-disaster-fund-in-preparation-for-hurricane-ian/
https://www.floridadisaster.org/news-media/news/20221001-first-lady-casey-desantis-announces-over-$20-million-raised-within-48-hours-of-activating-the-florida-disaster-fund/