A Continuing Storm: The On-Going Needs of Hurricane Katrina Evacuees
In the largest mass movement of U.S. citizens since the Dust Bowl, local nonprofit organizations and state and local agencies were quick to respond to the needs of the Katrina evacuees, only 40% of whom have returned to their homes in New Orleans. Federal agencies and national non-profit organizations, while able to provide massive financial aid and supplies, were often constrained by cumbersome eligibility and application requirements, and therefore unable to act quickly. Federal response worked best when eligibility and application requirements were temporarily relaxed, allowing evacuees to carry their benefits across state lines.
In addition to analyzing current conditions in New Orleans, the firms fielded 135 volunteer attorneys to study how host cities cared for 700,000 hurricane survivors in Atlanta, Baton Rouge, Birmingham, Houston and San Antonio. The goal of the project was to understand each city’s experience and to recommend best practices for future relief efforts. The report details a variety of interdependent issues in five key areas: housing, healthcare, education, employment and legal services.
"Unlike previous hurricanes or disasters our country has faced, Hurricane Katrina evacuees were unable to return home within a few days of the storm," said Linda Singer, executive director, Appleseed. "Public and private agencies were faced with a relief effort for which they were generally unprepared. Clearly, there are challenges that must be addressed by these host cities, and by any city that is committed to the safety and security of its residents."
The greatest challenge facing these host cities today is addressing the long-term needs of evacuees. Many still require housing, healthcare, including mental health services and employment.
"The gridlock in decision-making surrounding the rebuilding of New Orleans has placed additional pressure on host cities and created a need for longer term evacuee assistance," said Singer. "Rebuilding New Orleans is critical for the entire region, as would be the rebuilding of any city to the region that surrounds it."
In addition to analyzing the challenges facing host cities, the report recommends action applicable to future disaster relief efforts. Among them: cities must have an organized action plan. Local response worked best when one designated agency coordinated efforts and each organization had a predefined role within its area of expertise. Those cities that centralized communications, volunteer management and social service systems with one clear leader were able to serve evacuees’ needs more quickly. Finally, the availability of secure medical, education, housing and benefits records in a central digital database would allow evacuees to access services more quickly.
"Hurricane Katrina taught us that all cities must be prepared to face the human impact of a disaster in their region," said David Gross, a partner at coordinating law firm Faegre & Benson. "Whether we face another hurricane, an act of terrorism or any other disaster, cities around the country must have strategic plans in place to care for short and long term evacuees that do not depend solely on federal and national organizations."
The participating firms were Faegre & Benson, which led the research effort; Jones Day; King & Spalding; Kilpatrick Stockton; Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe, Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison, and Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton . The report was created from more than 350 interviews conducted from June 5 - June 23, 2006.
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