United We Prepare: United Way of Southwest Virginia Partners with Verizon and United Way Worldwide to Strengthen Disaster Preparedness Across the Region
Abingdon, VA- September 2026- United Way of Southwest Virginia has received a disaster preparedness grant through United We Prepare, an initiative supported by Verizon and United Way Worldwide to help communities strengthen their ability to prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters.
The funding will support United Way of Southwest Virginia’s continued efforts to equip individuals, families, community organizations and local partners with the knowledge and resources they need to be better prepared before disaster strikes.
For United Way of Southwest Virginia, preparedness is an essential part of its broader commitment to community resilience. Since the devastating impacts of Hurricane Helene and subsequent severe weather events, United Way has raised and distributed more than $2.5 million in disaster recovery funding throughout the region to affected counties following Hurricane Helene and Winter Storm Jett.
That recovery work has included direct assistance to affected families, support for local communities and organizations, and recovery projects designed to help Southwest Virginia residents rebuild and move forward. To date, United Way and its partners have completed more than $600,000 in direct service recovery projects for families across the region.
At the same time, United Way has continued to invest in preparing communities for future emergencies. Since February 2026, the organization has provided 24 emergency preparedness trainings to over 350 community members and partners across Southwest Virginia, helping residents understand how to prepare for disasters and what resources are available when an emergency occurs.
“Our experience over the past two years has reinforced that disaster response cannot begin when the disaster happens, it has to begin long before,” said Megan Parks, Executive Director of United Way of Southwest Virginia. “We have seen firsthand what our communities are capable of when neighbors, businesses, nonprofits, volunteers and local governments come together. This grant allows us to build on that momentum and make sure more people have the knowledge, resources and connections they need to be prepared before the next emergency.”
United Way of Southwest Virginia will host the first United Disaster Preparedness Symposium on September 22, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center in Abingdon. The event will bring together regional leaders and organizations to strengthen disaster preparedness, response coordination, and long-term recovery.
For more information about the United Disaster Preparedness Symposium or United Way of Southwest Virginia’s disaster resilience efforts, visit the United Way of Southwest Virginia, United Recovery Force webpage.
“We know that resilience is built together,” Parks said. “The relationships we develop before a disaster are the relationships that allow us to respond more effectively when our communities need us most. United We Prepare gives us another opportunity to strengthen those connections and ensure that preparedness is something we build into the fabric of our communities.”
Through the support of Verizon and United Way Worldwide, United Way of Southwest Virginia will continue expanding opportunities for residents and community partners to access preparedness education, resources and information.
The organization’s disaster preparedness and recovery efforts are part of its broader Community Resilience focus, which recognizes that strong communities are better equipped to withstand emergencies, respond to immediate needs and recover in ways that create greater stability for the future.
Media Contact
Megan Parks
Executive Director
United Way of Southwest Virginia
Email: mparks@unitedwayswva.org
Phone: (276) 628-2160
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United Way of Southwest Virginia fights for the health, education, and financial stability of every person in Southwest Virginia because they are the building blocks for a good quality of life. United Way convenes cross-sector partners to make an impact on the most complex problems in our region. Through collaboration with government, businesses, nonprofits, and individuals, United Way innovates for positive, lasting social change. With a footprint that covers more than 20% of the state of Virginia, United Way of Southwest Virginias serve the counties of Bland, Buchanan, Carroll, Dickenson, Floyd, Giles, Grayson, Lee, Montgomery, Pulaski, Russell, Scott, Smyth, Tazewell, Washington, Wise, and Wythe, and the cities of Bristol, Galax, Norton, and Radford.