Hailstorm Recovery

In late March and early April of 2024, two devastating hailstorms struck the Assam region of India, damaging thousands of home and, tragically, resulting in two deaths. At the West Jalinga Tea Estate, the storm tore through the roofs of 654 low-income households, home to over 1900 people living within the estate. In response, the tea estate's Fair Trade Committee convened an emergency meeting, after which workers voted to approve a relief project and use of Community Development Funds. They invested $4,500 USD to purchase and distribute plastic sheets to provide high-quality polyethylene sheets for weather-proofing for the homes with destroyed roofs. This rapid response helped affected families get through the rainy season without needing to abandon their homes, a critically important intervention that allowed time for longer-term repairs to be made.