Hurricane recovery in Louisiana

NEW YORK, October 6, 2005- Hurricane recovery in Louisiana is slow, but steady. Having been struck by two major hurricanes in the span of one month, people throughout state are engaged in recovery and relief work.

The diaspora created by hurricane Katrina alone has left no US state untouched. Persons in need of a new or temporary home are seeking shelter in every state. According to the New York Times 46 percent of those displaced by Katrina are within 100 miles of New Orleans itself, requiring local communities to stretch their facilities and resources to accommodate the influx in population. UMCOR is providing support to United Methodist Annual Conferences and National Mission Institutions to assist them in these efforts.

While towns throughout Louisiana are no strangers to hosting evacuees in the wake of a hurricane, the large numbers of displaced people and the length of time they will need shelter is unprecedented. In a recent tour of Northern Louisiana, UMCOR Consultant saw United Methodists rolling up their sleeves and helping out wherever and however possible. Churches have “risen to the occasion,” said Christy. “Each has found a unique niche,” to respond to the needs of their guests.

United Methodist institutions are also providing homes for the homeless. The Louisiana United Methodist Children’s Home in Ruston is making room for 37 children and 12 staff members from the Methodist Home for Children in New Orleans. They evacuated to Ruston the day before Katrina hit, thinking it would only be a few days. Now, the Louisiana United Methodist Children’s Home is renovating additional space for the children to live there for the anticipated six months to a year it will take for them to return to New Orleans. UMCOR provided a grant to both institutions to assist them in meeting the day-to-day needs for the children in their care.