When Hurricane Katrina smashed into the Gulf Coast on August 29, 2005, it was the most destructive hurricane in U.S. history.
Despite more than $6-billion in charitable donations in the years that followed, the massive rebuilding effort proved difficult and complex for many nonprofits.
And the effort continues to this day. What are the challenges nonprofit groups are facing five years after the disaster? What lessons does the Katrina experience offer charities and grant makers? And what lies ahead as rebuilding efforts continue and the Gulf Coast confronts new challenges in the face of the oil spill?
Join us on Tuesday, August 31, at noon U.S. Eastern time for a live online discussion about the continuing recovery and rebuilding efforts five years after Hurricane Katrina shattered the lives of many in the Gulf Coast region.
The guest:
Melissa Flournoy founded the Louisiana Association of Nonprofit Organizations and was director of the RAND Gulf States Policy Institute from 2008 to 2010. Ms. Flournoy served in the Louisiana House of Representatives from 1992 to 1996 and is a former chairwoman of the National Council of Nonprofit Associations.
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Comments
1. bcamp7 - August 23, 2010 at 03:24 pm
Here's a true story about a Katrina evacuee who returned home and received free diabetes education thanks to a nonprofit group from Baton Rouge, La. http://bit.ly/9zGeUE
2. rocketpreacher - August 24, 2010 at 04:25 pm
I served with The Salvation Army in Katrina and was there when Rita hit the area. I met the family there that owned a restaurant and shrimp/fish store that the tanker shoved inland by Katrina had destroyed. The wife owned a daycare center with a wonderful playground that was underwater due to Rita. The man's father owned a house that was destroyed by Rita. The man's brother owned two houses destroyed by Rita. They lost at least one of their shrimp boats. This family and their employees used their one shrimp boat remaining and a home made John boat to rescue people off the roofs of their houses during Katrina. They used their John Boat for helping The Salvation Army team that I led to feed those people stranded out in the bayou due to Rita. Each team The Salvation Army sent in served only three weeks in the disaster zone. This family stayed and worked and served every day of the disasters. I was privilaged to meet and work with this family. Before I left the area I took this family to the Outback for a wonderful dinner. I received a telephone call the day after I left. The man that had lost almost everything with his family that I took out to eat had showed up at the headquarters site an hour inland. They came to volunteer with The Salvation Army to help with whatever was needed.
Those folks were my heros and they will remain in my thoughts forever. I am wondering how they are dealing with the BP Oil Spill?
My heart forever was changed for having met them!
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