Long-Term Human Recovery

While it has been nearly four years since Hurricane Katrina came ashore in Louisiana, thousands have still yet to fully recover from this country’s largest natural disaster. Many of those still recovering have not only seen their lives decimated by the effects of four major hurricanes in three years, but have also seen a systematic failure on the part of their government to effectively and effieicntly serve the needs of its citizens.

Specifically, billions of recovery-related dollars and additional in-kind services and resources have flowed through Louisiana since the fall of 2005. Yet, there remains a failure to align the various existing government systems and resources related to long-term human recovery, there remains mismanagement and a lack of accountability and transparency, and there still remains no specific plan to deal with the long-term human recovery associated with the inevitable next disaster.

Recovery is not just an economic issue. It is also a humanitarian issue. Louisiana is its people. And if Louisiana’s people are unable to recover, the state will never truly live up to its Union, Justice, and Confidence motto.

The Louisiana Family Recovery Corps continues to work with local, state, and federal partners, state and federal elected officials, and the non-profit and private sectors to advance long-term human recovery in Louisiana. We also pledge to continue to provide meaningful support to those advocating for long-term human recovery. That is what our people need. That is what our people deserve.

Key Recovery Corps positions related to long-term human recovery:

• Create funding sources that are designated specifically for human recovery and are not tied to government programs
• Clearly-defined expectations of FEMA in its planning, development, implementation, and management of disaster activities that provide meaningful services to people must be adopted
• Build a more appropriate mechanism to address the emotional well-being of people affected by disaster
• Confront the emerging disparity that exists in the post-storm experience of disaster survivors in terms of access to and interest in training opportunities, employment opportunities, home ownership, stress management, and pre-emptive action related to ensuring a standard of well-being for children in vulnerable households
• Consider the particular needs of parishes and the composition of their impacted residents and initiate interventions that are designed to be culturally competent and relevant
• Align needed services with appropriate service infrastructure and visible access points
• The desire to return, or the ability to make a decision about returning, is unlikely to be sustainable without some effort to address interest and ability
• Strategies designed to appeal to out-of-state residents should consider the financial and non-financial issues affecting interest levels in returning and design approaches that reflect the diverse characteristics and issues identified by resident households
• Communication efforts that speak to the realities of post-disaster life -- both the positive activity and progress and also the remaining challenges that have affected recovery -- can be important tools for residents in their decision process