How to Help Earthquake Victims Rebuild: 7 Easy Ways

October 31, 2024 | 8 min read Financial Assistance

Earthquakes, like other natural disasters, can arrive without warning and strip thousands of people of basic necessities. The destruction can happen within a matter of minutes, but the financial hardship may last for months or even years.

According to the World Health Organization, between 1998 and 2017, earthquakes caused nearly 750,000 deaths globally, and more than 125 million people were affected by them during this time. This includes people who were injured, made homeless, displaced, or evacuated during the emergency phase of the disaster.

Thankfully, there are countless ways you can lend a hand and help earthquake victims locally or abroad. Whether it involves volunteer work, fundraising drives, or simply helping a neighbor, this disaster relief guide offers a number of ideas about how you can help speed up recovery and rebuilding efforts.

Start a GoFundMe

1. Support a charity that offers earthquake relief

According to a model developed by the USGS, 49 million people in the US are “somewhat likely” to experience damage from an earthquake in the coming decades. Fortunately, there are numerous charitable organizations that help earthquake victims in the U.S., supporting homes, businesses, and entire communities with earthquake relief.

Below are a few charities that frequently step in to help after an earthquake, or work to get communities prepared for a potential incident.

TEAM RUBICON: This nonprofit’s emergency response teams are partly made up of military veterans who want to continue making a difference. The military veterans work with medical professionals and first responders to help communities after devastating disasters.
CALIFORNIA RESIDENTIAL MITIGATION PROGRAM: This nonprofit offers an Earthquake Brace + Bolt (EBB) program that helps California residents prepare their homes for potential earthquakes at a discounted rate. Older homes are given a “residential seismic retrofit” that includes adding bolts and bracing around the home’s perimeter and foundation.
AMERICARES: Since 1979, Americares has been providing aid to people affected by poverty or disaster. The organization responds to about 30 emergencies each year, whether it’s hurricanes, earthquakes, tsunamis, or health crises. One of their mottos is “Ready, respond, recover.”

2. Seek government support

In the aftermath of an earthquake, the U.S. federal government is also on hand to help earthquake victims. Here are some of the government programs available to ensure individuals and businesses stay safe and rebuild.

EMERGENCY SHELTERS AND SAFETY INFORMATION: After a natural disaster, you can use the FEMA app to locate emergency shelters and disaster recovery centers. The app also sends real-time updates from the National Weather Service and offers emergency safety tips. To download the app, visit FEMA’s website.
DISASTER RELIEF LOANS: Victims of natural disasters can receive emergency financial assistance from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) if they are homeowners or renters located in a declared disaster area. The SBA offers low-interest, long-term loans up to $500,000 to help individuals and families with expenses to replace or repair their primary residence. For businesses, this can rise to $2 million.
DISASTER UNEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE (DUA): If an earthquake or other natural disaster prevents you from going to work, the Disaster Unemployment Assistance program can help. The program offers up to 26 weeks of benefits for those who no longer have a job or place to work because of the disaster, cannot reach their place of employment, or cannot work because of an injury caused by the disaster. To find more information and apply, visit the United States Department of Labor website.

3. Give blood

Donating your blood only takes about 45 minutes, but this small time commitment can save someone’s life. When a natural disaster strikes, organizations like the American Red Cross have to meet people’s immediate needs and aid recovery in the days and weeks ahead. This is why your blood donation is vital.

To find out more about how to schedule an appointment to give blood, visit their website.

4. Donate items

Item donations, whether that’s food or clothes, can provide a lifeline to individuals and communities impacted by earthquakes. However, when making donations, it’s important to do so through a disaster relief organization or the government.

They publish a list of what’s needed, so you can avoid sending items that aren’t required and can overwhelm distribution centers. You should make sure you give items:

That are on the list.
When they are requested.
To the organization, not the affected area.

5. Volunteer your time

If you’re near the disaster area, you can reach out to organizations that help earthquake victims and find out if they need support with their disaster recovery plan. Animals also need our help after natural disasters, so another volunteer idea is to get in touch with your local animal shelters to find out how you can help. The Humane Society is just one organization with a dedicated animal rescue team that trains volunteers and helps displaced animals become fostered and adopted.

If you’d like to help from afar, reach out to your local food bank and ask if they plan on accepting donations for victims.

6. Spread awareness online

Take to social media and help raise awareness about an earthquake and its devastating impacts using your platforms: Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, X, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

Whether you’re sharing an emergency fundraiser, a charity link, or posting updates about the earthquake recovery effort, sharing vital information to your various networks on social media helps to raise awareness and increase engagement.

7. Start a fundraiser

Crowdfunding in the wake of an earthquake is an immediate way to help victims of natural disasters, even if you’re short on money. Through GoFundMe, you can start crowdfunding for natural disasters and quickly raise money for whatever earthquake victims need most at the moment.

Here are the most common fundraising ideas for disaster relief:

Help a specific family in need, whether that means home repairs, funds for a temporary shelter, or simply money for food.
Raise money for an entire community. Reach out to city officials and find out where help is most needed, then focus your fundraising efforts there.
Partner with a favorite local business that needs help rebuilding.
Start a certified charity fundraiser for a disaster relief organization that can have a more widespread impact.

A GoFundMe is also ideal for long-term giving because there is no deadline to withdraw your funds. You can continue to raise money as long as earthquake relief is needed, whether that is a few weeks or a few years. Plus, our fundraising platform means that more of the donations you receive can be used to help people in need. Find out more about crowdfunding with our answers to some of the most common fundraising questions.

Real people who received help from crowdfunding

Thousands of earthquake victims have rebuilt their lives with the help of charities and government aid—but just as many realize they need help beyond those programs. These resilient individuals from around the world used GoFundMe to help recover and rebuild after devastating earthquakes.

Ahmed’s home rebuild

Brahim started a fundraiser to help his cousin Ahmed rebuild his home following a deadly earthquake in Morocco in 2023. Ahmed lost everything when the earthquake hit the Al Haouz region in the High Atlas, south of Marrakech.

Despite receiving some financial support from the government, Ahmed still needs an additional €4,000 to rebuild his home. All donations will go towards putting a roof over Ahmed’s head before the harsh winter arrives.

Rebuilding lives

Haruna is fundraising for his family in Wajima city in Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan. The region has suffered huge damages due to an earthquake in January and floods in September 2024.

The January earthquake hit on New Year’s Day, and since then people have been working hard to rebuild their homes, farms, and businesses. Unfortunately, the recent rainfall and floods ruined any progress that was made. All donations will go to Haruna’s family and the wider community so they can rebuild their lives.

Earthquake statistics: Why people need your support

In 2023, a total of 1,712 earthquakes with a magnitude of five or more were recorded worldwide.
The earthquake that occurred on January 17, 1994, in Los Angeles caused damages that were valued at up to $30 billion.
The largest recorded earthquake in the U.S. was a magnitude 9.2 that struck Prince William Sound, Alaska on Good Friday, March 28, 1964 UTC. 131 people died.
The largest recorded earthquake in the world was a magnitude 9.5 (Mw) in Chile on May 22, 1960. Approximately 1,655 people were killed, 3,000 injured, and 2,000,000 made homeless.
The 1976 earthquake in Tangshan, China, caused the highest death toll, 242,000+, while the earthquake that hit Haiti in 2010 caused the second-highest death toll, 222,570+.

Help earthquake victims right now

When an earthquake strikes, you can create a disaster relief fund and give financial support to people in need. Whether you’re raising money to help a close friend or an international nonprofit, we can help you make a difference.

Start an earthquake relief fundraiser