March 27, 2007
A primary goal among disaster response organizations in New Orleans is to have every house that Hurricane Katrina damaged "gutted" by the end of summer 2007, according to Jessica Vermilyea, Lutheran Disaster Response coordinator for Louisiana.
"We're pulling together with other groups in a consolidated effort to gut as many houses as we can, get all of the debris picked up, so that (cleanup) can be completed," enabling workers to "move full-swing into the next phase of work, which is rebuilding," said Vermilyea. Lutherans are working with other faith-based, secular, and governmental disaster response organizations to identify properties that still need to be gutted "for people who are trying to come back," she said.
According to Vermilyea, "some people have come back and rebuilt their homes but live in a community or on a street where there might be a house right next door that hasn't been gutted. It's a health issue and concern, with trash, debris, rats, all kinds of things. You don't want that in your neighborhood. So, we're trying to work together to get all properties cleaned out as quickly as possible."
Vermilyea estimates that about 10,000 volunteers -- many of whom are college students -- will be working in Louisiana this month. Over 800 Lutheran college students are participating this month in "What a Relief!," an alternative spring break effort of Lutheran Disaster Response.
LDR participates in the work of the Greater New Orleans Disaster Recovery Partnership (GNODRP). GNODRP, pronounced 'no drip,' is comprised of subcommittees, one of which is a subcommittee on rebuilding. Vermilyea serves as chair of that subcommittee's "gutting task force."
"GNODRP is somewhat like an overlying group that helps to (coordinate the) work of all the different long-term recovery organizations in the area. There are many long-term recovery organizations here. Normally we would only have one in a disaster, but because our geographical area is so large, we have one for every county in Louisiana," she said. GNODRP "pulls them together to help with some common difficulties and address how they can form and work better through partnerships."
The number of homes that need gutting in Orleans Parish -- where the city of New Orleans is located -- "is getting smaller, so we're working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to consolidate a list for one point of intake. The Army Corps has a better idea of what's left to be cleaned and what kind of debris is left out there, so our goal of completing the gutting work (will be) wrapped up by the end of this summer," Vermilyea said.
With the end of the gutting and clean-up phase of the response, skilled volunteers will become a greater need, especially carpenters, construction managers, and licensed plumbers and electricians. Skilled volunteers are crucial for the management of construction projects and in helping to train and guide lesser-skilled volunteers. For more information on volunteering with LDR, visit www.ldr.org/volunteer.
"We hear so many stories of people who need help, and it's good to be able to provide help. Lutheran Disaster Response has the ability to help through the generous donations received. There are the elderly, people with disabilities and single parents who need assistance. They are dependent on those who are able to give financially, and those who contribute through volunteer labor," said Vermilyea.
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Portions taken from ELCA News Service release, written by Melissa Ramirez-Cooper. For the full release, please visit www.elca.org/news
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