HurricAid offers "Advice From a Former Recovery Worker"

Get it here!

A former recovery worker offers invaluable advice to survivors of Katrina everywhere! Michele of Letters from NYC notes the following in response to Paul's request:

Below you will find most of what you need to help you get back on your feet.

The normal place to start in any disaster is with the American Red Cross. Red Cross volunteers at Disaster Relief Centers normally come equiped with xeroxed sheets of local/state contact numbers and victims or their family members can call to apply for services, temporary relief (in the form of shelter, food and clothing) and long term recovery programs (for government aid from agencies such as FEMA).

One thing to keep in mind as you deal with each agency is that each one is set up differently and have different time frames in which they will provide support for a victim. For instance, the American Red Cross is an agency geared to provide immediate and short term disaster relief. Short term can be 24 to 48 hrs for a small disaster (such as a fire or local flood/rain or snow storm) to up to several months as we will see in this case. FEMA on the other hand, is geared to provide initial support to communities and government entities and later to individuals.

Things you'll need
1) notebook & pen/pencil
2) plastic bag ziploc type large enough for notebook/pen
3) patience - you have to register with each agency which means giving the same info over and over again. Please keep your registration numbers in the notebook, you'll need to refer to your case as you follow up with each agency.

Please note, I am not an expert and have not worked in Disaster Recovery or as a Relief worker in almost 10 years. I am doing this to have informaiton handy for those who need it, like you and my best friend, Susan. She will need it when she finally gets to her 1st temporary destination: Dallas.

Where to start:
Here’s a list of Domestic Disaster Relief Organizations that are legitimate, have a longstanding history of disaster relief services, and that I’m familiar with. There's a brief description of what they do and some initial contact info that I was able to hurriedly put together. More info/links will appear as soon as I get a chance to get back here.

For those needing immediate shelter in Louisiana, please call 1-800-469-4828.

Additional Shelter Information:
Special Needs Shelter Information
Triage Phone Numbers:
Alexandria: 800-841-5778 Shreveport: 800-841-5776
Baton Rouge: 800-349-1372 Monroe: 866-280-7287
Houma/Thibodaux: 800-228-9409 Slidell/Hammond: 866-280-7724
Lafayette: 800-901-3210 Lake Charles: 866-280-2711

Equine Shelter/Evacuation Site Information
Locations for Animal Evacuation:
Alexandria - Large & Small 318-442-4222 (all vet clinics will accept)
Lamar Dixon - Gonzales - Large Animals
Shreveport - LSU-S (pets only, no livestock)
West Monroe - Ike Hamilton Coliseum

Louisiana Hotel Information 1-800-99-GUMBO

Emergency Shelter Information Points:
Tourist Welcome Center, US 65 & 84, 1401 Carter St. (US 84), Vidalia, LA
Tourist Welcome Center, TA Truck Stop, Tallulah Exit (Hwy 65 & I 20)
Paragon Casino, 711 Paragon Place, Marksville LA
Sammy's Truck Stop, I-49, Exit 53, 3601 LA 115W, Bunkie, LA
Med Express Office, 7525 US 71, Alexandria, LA
P.E. Gym, LSU- Shreveport, One University Place, Shreveport, LA
Pickering High School, 180 Lebleu Rd., Leesville, LA
Mowad Civic Center, 5th & 10th St., 1 Block off US 165, Oakdale, LA

Connecting with Loved Ones - SATERN - The Salvation Army's Team Emergency Radio Network has been activated. Click link to send a health and welfare request regarding family and friends you otherwise are unable to locate. Also contact the Red Cross with your loved ones info. as they cross reference missing info reports with their victims relief support database. There is also this site which I'm not familiar with, but it's free and uses today's technology to reunite families.

American Red Cross - 1(866)-GET-INFO (438-4636) This is the starting point for all information, from immediate relief, and local/state recovery efforts, to information about loved ones and long term aid efforts. Their emergency assistance includes fixed/mobile feeding stations, shelter, cleaning supplies, comfort kits, first aid, blood and blood products, food, clothing, emergency transportation, rent, home repairs, household items, and medical supplies. Additional assistance for long-term recovery may be provided when other relief assistance and/or personal resources are not adequate to meet disaster-caused needs. The American Red Cross provides referrals to the government and other agencies providing disaster assistance. You can apply for relief at any local Red Cross Office (see link).

Catholic Charities USA Disaster Response - 1(800) 919-9338 - provides
assistance to communities in addressing the crisis and recovery needs of local
families. Catholic Charities agencies emphasize ongoing and long-term recovery services for individuals and families, including temporary housing assistance for low income families, counseling programs for children and the elderly, and special counseling for disaster relief workers.

Christian Disaster Response (CDR) - provides disaster assessments, fixed/mobile feeding facilities, and in-kind disaster relief supplies. CDR also coordinates and stockpiles the collection of donated goods through their regional centers.

There's much, much more. Check it out! Then, pass it on! Survivors need as much information as they can in one place!