When disaster strikes, we tend to measure response in hours.

How quickly can first responders reach affected communities? How quickly can medicines arrive? How quickly can damaged health facilities begin caring for patients again?

Speed matters enormously; but what we often see is that the ability to move quickly in an emergency is rarely created during the emergency itself.

It is built beforehand.

Mountain Heart Nepal delivers Direct Relief-provided personal care items for displaced people in Bidur Municipality, Nuwakot district, Nepal. (Photo courtesy of Mountain Heart Nepal)

" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/www.directrelief.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/nepal1.jpg?fit=1024%2C576&ssl=1" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.directrelief.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/nepal1.jpg?ssl=1" alt="Mountain Heart Nepal delivers Direct Relief-provided personal care items for displaced people in Bidur Municipality, Nuwakot district, Nepal."…