When the Storm Hits: A Call for Resilient Systems and Equitable Recovery

By Donayle Whitmore

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As a native of St. Louis, I’m heartbroken watching the devastation unfold across the city’s North, West, and Central districts. Tornado preparedness was a routine part of growing up—regular siren tests, school drills, and practiced evacuation protocols. But those drills always felt abstract, like a distant possibility. We never truly believed the day would come.

And yet, it did.

When the tornado struck, there were no sirens. No alerts. And far too little warning. The city’s infrastructure failed at the most critical moment. Homes were destroyed. Entire lives were upended. And now, families are faced with the painful task of starting over—many without the resources to do so.

As is often the case, volunteers and grassroots groups have stepped up. They’ve begun the essential work of cleaning up and providing immediate aid. But this is more than a disaster cleanup. The recovery will take years—and even then, the question remains: Will recovery ever be complete?

If you look at places like New Orleans, Houston, and other disaster-prone regions, the answer is complicated. Many communities are still grappling with the long-term effects of storms that hit years ago. And in some ways, the tornado that hit St. Louis had already landed long before the winds came.

The Invisible Storm: Economic Disaster

Long before this natural disaster, many St. Louis neighborhoods were already reeling from economic and social inequities. Underfunded schools, strained healthcare systems, limited job opportunities, and aging infrastructure had weakened the region’s resilience. The tornado only exposed and deepened the cracks in the foundation.

It’s not enough to raise funds to remove debris or patch up homes. The real work lies in addressing the underlying conditions that make these communities vulnerable in the first place. This includes creating sustainable economic opportunities, investing in infrastructure, and modernizing emergency response systems—particularly in communities historically left behind.

Reimagining Recovery and Readiness

So why, after decades of climate disasters and data, haven’t we moved toward a more intentional and systemic plan for recovery and resilience? Why haven’t we embraced bold policy shifts and innovative practices that both mitigate the impact of these events and accelerate recovery when they occur?

That’s the work CVested is committed to.

We believe that recovery isn't just about rebuilding—it's about reimagining. It's about building systems that are not only responsive, but proactive. We’re building ecosystems of innovation by supporting social entrepreneurs and impact organizations who are closest to the problems—and often closest to the solutions. We support those working in real time to strengthen health systems, education, economic development, and infrastructure across vulnerable regions.

Because real recovery means ensuring that the next storm doesn’t break us the same way.

🙌🏽 Join Us at the Table of Change

It’s time to move from recovery to resilience—from piecemeal responses to proactive collaboration.

Join us as a:

• 🏛 Community Partner

• 💰 Funder or Financial Host

• 🔬 Researcher

• 🔗 Ecosystem Builder

Let’s reimagine what our communities can look like when we build solutions before the storm hits—and invite all stakeholders to the table of change.