After the Storm: Prayer and Help

If you are in danger right now, call 911 and follow the instructions of local emergency officials.

Prayers

For Those Affected

Lord God, be near to everyone whose home, work or community has been damaged or destroyed. Give shelter to the homeless, food to the hungry, healing to the injured and rest to the weary. Supply what they need for today, and give them hope for tomorrow. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

For Those Who Grieve

Merciful Father, comfort every family mourning someone they love. Hold them close in their sorrow, surround them with people who care, and fill them with the hope we have in Jesus Christ, who conquered death. Amen.

For Rescuers and Helpers

Lord, protect the first responders, medical teams, utility crews, volunteers and neighbors who are helping. Give them strength, wisdom and safety, and refresh them when they are exhausted. Amen.

For Children

Dear God, please take care of the children who are scared or have lost their homes. Keep them close to the grown-ups who love them, and help them feel safe again. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

When You Are Too Tired to Pray

Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

This ancient prayer, prayed by Christians of many traditions, is enough. God hears even the prayers we cannot put into words.

Lament Psalms

A lament is an honest prayer of grief: telling God how much it hurts, asking Him for help and choosing to trust Him anyway. Many of the Psalms are laments, and they give us words when we have none.

“How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
How long must I take counsel in my soul
and have sorrow in my heart all the day?
How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?”
Psalm 13:1-2 (ESV)

“But I have trusted in your steadfast love;
my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
I will sing to the Lord,
because he has dealt bountifully with me.”
Psalm 13:5-6 (ESV)

“God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear though the earth give way,
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling.”
Psalm 46:1-3 (ESV)

“Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my salvation and my God.”
Psalm 42:11 (ESV)

“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted
and saves the crushed in spirit.”
Psalm 34:18 (ESV)

“I lift up my eyes to the hills.
From where does my help come?
My help comes from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.”
Psalm 121:1-2 (ESV)

And two promises to hold on to: God is with us in the deep waters, and His love never fails.

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
and the flame shall not consume you.”
Isaiah 43:2 (ESV)

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.”
Lamentations 3:22-23 (ESV)

About the Bible verses: verses on this page are quoted from the English Standard Version (ESV). When you choose your church in “Viewing as,” each verse reference opens in your church’s own translation; tap a reference to read it there.

Practical Help

FEMA Disaster Assistance

Apply for federal help after a declared disaster at DisasterAssistance.gov. For help applying, call the FEMA Helpline at 1-800-621-3362, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. in your time zone, 7 days a week. If you use a relay service, give FEMA your number for that service.

American Red Cross

Shelter, food, emergency supplies and support after disasters. Call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit RedCross.org for open shelters and other help.

Disaster Distress Helpline

Free, confidential support 24 hours a day for anyone feeling overwhelmed after a disaster. Call or text 1-800-985-5990 (press 2 for Spanish). From SAMHSA.

In a Crisis

Call 911 for emergencies. If you or someone you love is thinking about suicide, call or text 988 any time.

Be careful with anyone who asks you for money to help you apply for government aid, or who arrives uninvited offering repairs. Check with your local officials first.

Phone numbers and web addresses were checked on each organization’s official website on October 17, 2026.

How Families Can Help

Pray together by name for the places affected, and keep praying after the news moves on. Recovery takes months and years.
Give money through an established relief group. Relief groups usually ask for money rather than donated goods, so they can buy exactly what is needed close to the disaster.
Check on neighbors, especially older adults, people living alone and families with new babies.
Let children help: drawing cards for helpers, giving part of their allowance or packing a family emergency kit together. Ready.gov/kids has free family preparedness activities.
Talk gently with children about what they see in the news. When Kids Hear Scary News can help.

How Churches Can Help

Pray in worship for those affected, for the grieving and for the helpers.
Take a special offering through your church body’s own relief ministry, or one your church already trusts.
Volunteer through organized teams. Trained teams are coordinated with local officials, so they help without getting in the way. Ask your church or one of the groups below about training.
Care for your own members who have family in the affected area, and welcome anyone displaced by the disaster.
Stay for the long haul. Rebuilding homes and lives continues long after the cameras leave.

Christian Relief Groups

These Christian relief groups, from several traditions, are listed in alphabetical order. Many churches give through their own church body’s relief ministry; ask your church which one it supports.