ELCA NEWS SERVICE March 27, 2007 Lutherans Help 'Gut Out' New Orleans by End of Summer 2007 07-042-MRC NEW ORLEANS (ELCA) -- A primary goal among disaster response workers here is to have every house that Hurricane Katrina damaged "gutted" by the end of summer 2007, according to Jessica Vermilyea, Metairie, La., state coordinator for Lutheran Disaster Response. Lutheran Disaster Response is a collaborative ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. "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 governmental and other ecumenical disaster response coordinators to identify properties that still need to be gutted "for people who are trying to come back," she said. Due to the amount of devastation in the New Orleans area, disaster response efforts have "been somewhat slow, not just for Lutherans, but for everybody here," said Vermilyea. While it is not known how many homes have been gutted, volunteers are still needed on a weekly basis, she said. "Don't forget we're here, and we're not all fixed yet. And, we're not going to be fixed for many, many years to come. What we want people to know is that the individuals who need help are ones who don't get heard in the public arena," said Vermilyea. The work of Lutheran Disaster Response is centered in four Louisiana parishes -- Jefferson, Orleans, St. Bernard and St. Tammany. "We service most of those with what we're doing as far as volunteer efforts. This is where Lutheran Disaster Response is responding, and we may be moving outside of these parishes at some point," said Vermilyea. "We do respond to some of the other parishes in long-term recovery with financial help, but as far as the actual volunteer help, this is where we are concentrated," she said. The city of New Orleans "has put into effect a fast-track system to get blighted properties turned over. 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," she said. To make that happen, Vermilyea and disaster response coordinators have instituted a "gutting blitz" for March. She estimates that 10,000 volunteers -- most of whom are college and university students, church groups and others -- will be working in Louisiana this month. "We have all of these college kids coming in for spring break, who will be working to get the gutting work done," Vermilyea said. "College students will be doing other things like painting drywall, which is more of the rebuilding work, but we're working to get the gutting done," she said. The "financial burden to the city will become heavier for the removal of debris at the end of August, and we're trying to get that all taken care of so the city doesn't have to absorb that cost," Vermilyea said. Lutheran Disaster Response participates in the work of the Greater New Orleans Disaster Recovery Partnership (GNODRP), which is pronounced "no drip," said Vermilyea. GNODRP 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 in Orleans Parish -- where New Orleans is located -- that need gut work "is getting smaller, so we're working with the Army Corp of Engineers to consolidate a list for one point of intake. The Army Corp 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. As more houses are gutted, the need for "unskilled labor" is lessening, she said. "That's good because it shows that we're moving toward rebuilding," which would involve volunteers with professional skills in plumbing, roofing and electrical work. "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. - - - DOMESTIC DISASTERS: Editors: When listing organizations receiving funds to aid survivors of major disasters inside the United States, Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands, please include: ELCA Domestic Disaster Response, P.O. Box 71764, Chicago, Illinois 60694-1764 Credit card gift line: 1-800-638-3522 Credit card gifts via Internet: http://www.ELCA.org/disaster/katrina For information contact: John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask] http://www.elca.org/news ELCA News Blog: http://www.elca.org/news/blog