What’s “mitigation” mean? Simply put, it means “building back better.” That’s something MDS volunteers do wherever they serve. For homeowners, mitigation means being able to sleep at night knowing that their homes are better equipped to withstand the next storm, flood, fire or earthquake that comes their way. Mitigation means lessening the impact of a disaster, or looking for ways to prevent it altogether. This includes repairing or rebuilding homes so they can survive future disasters, or even moving them to a different location altogether. To learn more, visit: https://mds.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/MDSMitigation.pdf #MDSResponds #RespondRebuildRestore #MennoniteDisasterService (fb)

Volunteers are putting the finishing touches on a house for flood survivors in Constance Bay, Ontario. Jeanne Gauthier and Steve MacKenzie’s home has flooded three times since 2017. It’s taken a toll on both their physical and mental health and left them without safe shelter. The Ontario Unit started building the couple a new house in mid-February — well above the Ottawa River’s flood levels. Since then, more than 40 volunteers have been on site with a total of 230 volunteer days put in. “I just can’t believe how blessed we are that this even came about. I’m still pinching myself,” reflected Jeanne. “It’s just going to make things so much easier. That’s relieving a lot of the stress and trauma that I feel.” #MDSResponds #RespondRebuildRestore #MennoniteDisasterService (fb)