On April 26, 2024, severe tornadoes struck eastern Nebraska, leaving a 32-mile trail of destruction and damaging or destroying almost 1,000 homes. The disaster deprived many residents, particularly the elderly and vulnerable, of essential services, spurring an immediate response from the Omaha Community Foundation. The foundation acted quickly, raising $1.3 million to coordinate relief and support long-term recovery, creating one of the region's most organized recovery programs, involving nonprofits like COPE.