Disasters test systems, not just people.

Before, during, and after disasters, people are forced to navigate legal and administrative systems that are difficult to understand, slow to respond, and misaligned with real life. Outcomes often depend less on the scale of harm and more on whether someone knows what to do, when timing matters, and how to move through complex procedures under crisis conditions.

Emergency Legal Responders builds Disaster Systems Literacy so communities can prepare for disasters, act during emergencies, and navigate recovery without being locked out by complexity. We focus on education, early navigation, and systems-level insight to reduce preventable harm across the full disaster cycle.

We work with partners in disaster-impacted communities. Our team of attorneys, organizers, and educators embeds plain-language legal education and navigation tools into trusted networks, helping communities understand how disaster systems operate, where risk concentrates, and how to intervene early to protect rights and access resources.