Tornado season typically begins in April. However, the United States has already recorded 277 tornadoes as of April 2, 2026. The latest information reports 11 fatalities as of March 10. Additionally, areas that haven’t yet fully recovered from previous disasters have endured extensive damage to homes and communities due to these tornadoes and severe storms.

Tornadoes often occur in less-resourced rural communities in some of the poorest states, such as Mississippi and Louisiana. Rural communities can be slower to recover compared to urban centers, requiring “patient dollars” for rehabilitation after disasters. Pledges of multi-year funding are very helpful.

Funders can support communities after tornadoes and severe storms in a few key areas, including:

Housing

People whose homes were damaged will need support securing new housing that is safe and affordable, in addition to help repairing damaged property. After a tornado, displaced residents may  face challenges finding housing that meets their needs. Tornadoes affect people from all walks of life, some with insurance and others without.

The destruction of manufactured homes (often called mobile homes) also affects affordable housing availability in communities.  More than 22 million people in the U.S. live in mobile and manufactured homes, which represent an important, affordable and accessible housing option for many communities.

Mental Health

Emotional and spiritual care after a tornado is critical, especially for the families of people killed in the storms, first responders and those who have seen their communities destroyed. Long-term mental health and trauma support is crucial for long-term recovery. In communities still recovering from previous disasters, the trauma of experiencing another one can be especially acute. Additionally, there is also a severe risk of  poor emotional health, suicide or self-harming behaviors among  farmers and ranchers after disasters such as tornadoes and severe storms.

Economic Recovery

Communities suffer from damage and destruction to their homes, but also to their businesses. Direct costs include damage to brick-and-mortar buildings, damage to crops and land, power loss to refrigerated goods, inability to transport goods and services over damaged roadways, and loss of income while businesses rebuild after the storm. Investing in business recovery can stimulate local economies and is critical to helping communities rebuild.  

Read the full article about supporting communities after tornadoes and severe storms by Gina DeLuca at Center for Disaster Philanthropy.