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2007 Hurricane Katrina Response report Dec. 10, 2007 - More than 40 Orphan Grain Train trailers, bedroom units, shower and restroom units, tool trailers, and other large pieces of equipment are currently in place at two Gulf Coast volunteer disaster-response camps, Camp Restore in New Orleans and Camp Biloxi in Biloxi, Miss. Over 120 semi loads of supplies and equipment have been delivered to the area to-date.
A mobile bedroom unit is moved into place at Camp Biloxi. Orphan Grain Train equipment is also in use along the Gulf Coast near Venice, La. where 20-foot-long steel storage units are in place to provide laundry facilities and secure storage for people in the shrimp-fishing trade. Fishermen use their own boats and employ small crews. Their fleets were overturned by Katrina’s fury in 2005, and one by one their boats are being recovered, renovated, and re-launched.
Mobile wash houses being put into place near Venice, La. Why do we continue to support the Gulf Coast recovery effort? The answer is that less than half of the affected people are back in their homes. More than 300,000 homes were lost two years ago. The combined destruction of the three hurricanes in late 2005 have brought about the worst domestic disaster since the Civil War, across an area the size of Great Britain. The following statistics were provided by the LCMS Southern District: Camp Biloxi, as of Sept. 2007, since Sept. 2005 Camp Restore, as of Sept. 2007, since Oct. 2006 Homes & Parks Depending on where you look, the remaining work will take eight to ten years to complete at the current rate of recovery. John Coyle, Director of Operations in Mississippi for Lutheran Social Services Disaster Response (LSSDR), has been at Camp Biloxi since Hurricane Katrina. The disaster response camp sits next to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Biloxi, Miss. and handles up to 180 volunteers per week. Other camps nearby include Camp Victor in Ocean Springs, Camp Coast Care in Pass Christian and Camp Restore in New Orleans. “Many good Christian volunteers would help if they knew there was a need,” Coyle said. “But, most Americans don’t know there still is a need.” More than 17,000 people in Harrison County, Miss. are living in FEMA trailers, 26 months after Hurricane Katrina, waiting for help and resources to rebuild their homes. Many of the people who lost their homes could not qualify for flood insurance because their home was considered “above” the storm surge flood plain. This is why most homeowners in the Biloxi area did not hold federally backed flood insurance. If they didn’t have flood insurance it’s likely they will receive insurance coverage for wind damage to their roof, but not for water damages inside the house caused by the storm surge. The balance needed to rebuild a home comes from personal savings or charitable gifts and limited government grants. Camp Biloxi continues to also maintain a food distribution center for people in the Biloxi area who need assistance after losing their jobs to Katrina. Small businesses--the majority of employers—are not reappearing fast enough to get everyone back in the workforce. As of November 2007, 500 to 600 people per month come to Camp Biloxi’s distribution center. Volunteer opportunities Volunteer teams who can serve five or more days have the best opportunity to help a family start over. To schedule your team, please call: (228) 594-0008 for Camp Biloxi, and (888) 248-2636 for Camp Restore in New Orleans. Camp Biloxi website
Orphan Grain Train is also in need of additional semi and pickup truck drivers with good driving records. If you are in good health and have had a physical exam within the past two years, please call our Hurricane Response Hotline: (402) 371-9313. With a shortage of qualified volunteer drivers, Orphan Grain Train is pleased to have the support of the truck driver-training program at Northeast Community College in Norfolk. When trainees are ready for road experience, they are given the opportunity to take a week to drive to the Gulf and back for Orphan Grain Train. Even with volunteer drivers, each shipment costs an average of $2,000 (round-trip as of December 1, 2007). Donations Contributions for the Katrina Relief effort and Domestic Disaster Response are critical to sustain this effort. Without the generous donations received over the past two years, the Katrina relief effort would not exist. Ways You Can Help Multimedia Hurricane Katrina Response streaming video Thank You! Thank you to the cash donors who have made it possible for Orphan Grain Train to nearly triple the $375,000 received from LCMS World Relief and Human Care. Thank you to all who continue to support this work with additional gifts and volunteer time. Orphan Grain Train's name and character are explained by the words of Christ recorded in the Gospel of John, chapter 14, verse 18, "I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you." Back to Hurricane Katrina page |
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Orphan Grain Train International Office PO Box 1466 Norfolk, NE 68702-1466 (402) 371-7393 FAX (402) 371-7350 email@ogt.org |
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