In times of crisis, the Union activates the Union Disaster Relief Fund for contributions, which are then forwarded to appropriate agencies. In recent years the Union Disaster Relief Fund has provided help to the victims of earthquakes, floods, hurricanes and tsunamis, as well as after September 11, and when African American churches were burned in the Southern United States. In the wake of the hurricanes that battered the Gulf Coast in 2005, more than $3 million in donated funds were raised to help the victims and relief agencies, as well as the congregations of Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas and Florida. Information about the Union's allocations is made public on our website. The Union retains no funds from relief efforts, with the exception of direct costs, such as credit card fees.