450,000 metro Detroit residents were without power for days as a result of storms earlier this month. For many of us, this was our second multi-day power outage in 2 months.
Last summer, we surveyed 248 community members across several Detroit congregations—people who attend services and neighbors who rely on them for community meals, educational programs, and other supports.
We asked about their experiences with the extreme weather that's already reshaping daily life in Detroit: extreme heat, flooding, hazardous air quality, and power outages.
What we heard was clear, and often sobering.
No Surprise: Power outages are the #1 challenge
Outages were the most consistent problem across all congregations — at some sites, a substantial majority of respondents reported experiencing them at least once in the last year. And for many, outages go far beyond an inconvenience: people worried about keeping medications cold, staying cool or warm, charging phones to stay connected, and having somewhere safe to go. That's why generators, solar, backup power, and charging stations topped the list of what residents asked for.
Heat and air quality are health threats
At several sites, a third to half of respondents said their households had experienced health impacts from extreme heat or poor air quality in the last year. Residents identified needs for cooling centers, fans and A/C, air filtration, and clean-air rooms where vulnerable neighbors—especially seniors—can safely wait out hazardous conditions.
Flooding hits home, literally
Basement flooding affected more than half of respondents at one congregation and nearly half at two others. People weren't just asking for help cleaning up after floods; they wanted drainage improvements, basement repairs, weatherization, and other fixes that reduce the damage before the next storm.
Preparedness gaps leave families exposed
Most respondents had never attended a disaster preparedness workshop. Many lacked evacuation plans, and roughly half at several sites had no disaster-related insurance—likely an undercount, given how common under-insurance is here. Practical education and help connecting households with financial protections could close a serious gap.
What communities want are well-resourced community spaces, like congregations
Perhaps the most powerful finding wasn't about any single hazard. Across all sites, when asked where they'd turn in an emergency, residents again and again named their congregation or community center: Somewhere nearby to cool off, charge a phone, get food or water, or simply stay safe until conditions improve. Others lifted up resource-sharing among neighbors and mutual aid.
Community members aren't asking for services that appear only after disaster strikes—they're describing a network of trusted neighborhood institutions equipped to support neighbors before, during, and after disruptions. Spaces that are familiar, safe, and where they know they will be treated with respect and dignity. Investing in backup power, cooling and clean-air capacity, emergency supplies, and preparedness education would respond directly to what Detroiters themselves told us they need.
This is why we're working with congregation community centers across the city of Detroit and helping them create plans to activate as "resilience hubs." These hubs already know how to provide hospitality and welcome to their communities under blue skies. With our help, they're building the capacity to serve their communities under gray skies, as well.
Stay tuned for more as our work continues!