HURRICANE ISAAC

HURRICANE ISAAC

La Place, Louisiana

THE SITUATION:

Hurricane Isaac was a destructive and deadly storm that slammed the Gulf Coast. Louisiana was among the hardest hit. CAN-DO’s assessment shows approximately 7,000 homes were flooded, but only 10% of the families had flood insurance. Unfortunately, one month after the storm, we also assessed that most of the large multi-national relief organizations had already departed, leaving residents feeling abandoned and donors unsure of where their money can go to make a real difference. Nearly half the homes in the state lost electricity, and 60,000 homes were damaged from the storm – that’s more than four times than estimated.

Assessment Video: This assessment was shot Sept 15th, and it does not do justice to the reality of what is really happening here. The purpose of this video is so people can what the people of LaPlace are dealing. Despite being amongst the hardest hit areas, they’ve received little-to-no aid from the Government or larger relief organizations since the storm.

WHERE WE WORKED:

CAN-DO’s network of volunteers two months on the ground in St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana collaborating with local residents, organizations, community and parish leaders to help develop innovative methods in order to speed-up aid and effectively provide what was needed most to residents.

Our purpose was for the CAN-DO team to show the residents of LaPlace, Louisiana that they had not been forgotten, and to illustrate how local companies, vendors and volunteers from across south Louisiana could rally around this neglected community to show their support and provide immediate relief.

Progress Video 1: By state law, hired contractors cannot enter resident’s property without written permission, which is why debris sat for weeks on front lawns while residents were displaced. To remedy this, CAN-DO rented bobcats, tractors and enlisted local volunteers to move debris from front lawns to street so contractors could legally and quickly remove debris.

Progress Video 2: Blocks after block is filled with debris from damaged homes. As the CAN-DO team helps with debris removal for residents, they also face protecting homeowners from looters trying to make a buck off other people’s belongings.

WHAT WE DID:

• Set up command center to distribute tools, cleaning supplies, clothing, meals, toys, emergency supplies and disaster packs to neighborhoods in LaPlace, LA.

• Organized volunteer teams to work in unison with the parish, assisting in debris removal from LaPlace resident’s yards and organized trash pick-up from state hired contractors. By state law, hired contractors cannot enter resident’s property without written permission, which is why debris sat for weeks on front lawns while residents were displaced. To remedy this, CAN-DO rented bobcats, tractors and enlisted local volunteers including LSU students to move the debris from front lawns to the street so contractors could legally and quickly remove the debris. This strategy saved homeowners the stress of having to do it themselves and allowed them to begin the rebuilding process.

• Aided in demolition and rebuilding of flooded homes.

• Cleaned and dehumidified homes from mold and mildew.

• Worked with FEMA to help relocate families displaced by Isaac.

• Provided security at neighborhood entrances and throughout neighborhoods in LaPlace to protect from looting.

• Organized a neighborhood block party for the residents of LaPlace and teamed up with the New Orleans Saints to help us distribute new toys, clothes, and food, as well as boosting the moral of hundreds of residents’ effected by Isaac. (see video)

• Christmas day, CAN-DO has partnered with Domino’s Pizza, Celebration Church and residents of the local community on distribute toys to children who lost everything after Hurricane Isaac.

Donor Completion Video: “When a disaster hits they ask Who Dat? We say, CAN-DO Dat!” – Former NFL Saints player Jabari Greer. Watch the CAN-DO team clearing out debris from neighborhoods and distributing food, clothes and toys following the devastating hurricane in 2012.

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THE TEAM

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PROJECT PARTNERS