NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. – As the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season begins, Trident United Way is proud to announce it has received an $80,000 grant from Coastal Community Foundation to launch a coordinated disaster preparedness, response and long-term recovery effort in Charleston County.
The funding, provided through Coastal Community Foundation’s Disaster Response Fund, supports the creation of a full-time VOAD Manager position. The role will help bring nonprofit, faith-based, community and government partners together before disasters occur, strengthening communication, coordination, collaboration and cooperation so the region is better prepared to respond when needs arise.
The newly formed Charleston County VOAD, or Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster, is the Charleston County chapter of South Carolina VOAD. It serves as a collaborative platform for organizations and government agencies working together to strengthen preparedness, response and recovery across the Charleston region. The VOAD also coordinates with partners in Berkeley and Dorchester counties and welcomes engagement from organizations across the Tri-County area.
Rather than duplicating services, VOAD members coordinate efforts, share information and use each organization’s strengths to help communities receive the right support at the right time. That means building relationships before disasters happen, helping partners understand where help is needed and making it easier for organizations to work together when communities need them most.
In a coastal region where hurricanes can quickly upend daily life, preparation must begin long before a storm arrives. In those moments, families need reliable access to food, shelter, transportation, supplies and trusted information. For ALICE® (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) families, one storm can quickly deepen financial pressure and make recovery harder when emergency savings are already out of reach.
“Here in the Tri-County, we know storms do not just disrupt roads, homes and power lines. They disrupt families,” said DJ Hampton, President and CEO of Trident United Way. “We hope this hurricane season does not bring a major storm our way, but preparation is not optional. Families need reliable information, trusted support and organizations that are already working together. This investment allows us to build those relationships now, so our community is better prepared to respond, recover and stand with our neighbors through whatever comes next.”
Nicole Krokosz, AEM, serves as Charleston County VOAD Program Manager, bringing experience supporting emergency management operations across preparedness, response and recovery, including efforts during Hurricane Ian in 2022. She leads Charleston County VOAD’s year-round work to coordinate partners, reduce duplication and strengthen disaster readiness.
“Disaster preparedness is essential to creating a resilient region,” said Darrin Goss Sr., President and CEO of Coastal Community Foundation. “If a major storm impacts South Carolina’s coast this season, we are ready to utilize CCF’s Disaster Response Fund to deploy grants where they are needed most. We will be able to do this more efficiently with VOAD's strong coordination and clear communication. We are proud to support Trident United Way’s work to bring partners together and strengthen Charleston County’s capacity to prepare, respond, and recover.”
The 2026 Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through Nov. 30. With support from Coastal Community Foundation, Trident United Way is helping the Tri-County prepare before disaster strikes, respond when needs arise and support families through recovery.
For more information about Trident United Way and Charleston County VOAD, visit TUW.org.
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ABOUT TRIDENT UNITED WAY
For more than 80 years, Trident United Way has been a trusted partner in building a stronger future for Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester counties. With a bold goal to uplift 15,000 families out of poverty by 2035, we lead collaborative solutions that increase income, reduce debt and open pathways to opportunity for local families, creating lasting impact for generations