A Response to Louisiana Recovery Efforts
On Sunday, August 14, President Obama declared that a major disaster exists in the State of Louisiana and ordered Federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area affected by severe storms and flooding. The federal disaster declaration comes after Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards declared a state of emergency across Louisiana this past weekend.
But we know federal and state government aid won’t be enough. Our charitable contributions are also necessary to reach the thousands of people now without homes.
August 24 UPDATE: Chonicle of Philanthropy Observes "Slow Start for Donations to Aid La. Flood Victims"
By acting collectively, together we can have a far greater impact on Louisiana’s recovery. Organizations accepting donations:
- The Greater New Orleans Foundation, in partnership with the New Orleans Mayor Landrieu's NOLA Pay It Foward Fund.
- The Center for Disaster Philanthropy’s Gulf Coast Resilience Innovation Fund
- Baton Rouge Area Foundation
- United Way
- Salvation Army
- American Red Cross
- St. Bernard Parish
Torrential rains have prompted historic flooding and some areas of the state experienced twenty inches of rain in only 24 hours. The banks of fifteen rivers across the state are swollen causing massive flooding.
At least eleven deaths have been attributed to the flooding, more than 20,000 people have been evacuated, and 12,000 are currently in shelters. More than 40,000 homes and businesses are without power and Louisiana State University has shuttered its doors as a result of flooding on the campus.
While the flooding in Louisiana and the numbers of affected individuals and communities will continue to change over the coming days and weeks, we know several things about helping after catastrophic flooding events. We know that schools, homes, and community infrastructure will suffer tremendous damage; families and individuals will be displaced from their homes longer than anticipated; and the lives and livelihoods of our fellow citizens will be impacted for many months to come. And we know that non-governmental organizations working to answer the call will require tremendous additional support to work in disaster-affected communities.