By Hether Scheel | Development Officer, FOI
Update on Recovery Efforts:
Full recovery remains challenging after Hurricane Michael devastated much of the Florida Panhandle, along with areas in Georgia and southern Virginia. Many of the affected communities lack the government resources to mount a quick recovery. Local Habitat for Humanity organizations operating in the region partnered with public and private agencies to assess the damage and develop short- and long-term reocvery plans. In the immediate aftermath, Habitat for Humanity International deployed Disaster Corps volunteers and Mobil Response Units to complement and supplement skills and expertise on the ground.
Habitat's early recovery phase was guided by our Pathways to Permanence framework that works with families from the start to help them through the long-term process of moving into safe, affordable, permanent homes after a disaster. Three affiliates in Florida responded to early recovery efforts, helping with clean up and assisting families with insurance claims and other immediate services in the first three months. After the immediate response and cleanup, we moved into the next phase of our recovery strategies.
Two affiliates in Florida remain engaged in the long-term reponse with Habitat for Humanity International. Bay County Habitat for Humanity and Chipola Area Habitat for Humanity are the two affiliates. In Bay County, new estimates show that Hurricane Michael destroyed 1 in 5 homes - 20 percent of the housing stock. Housing shortages are extreme throughout the areas, and both affilaites are focusing on new construction and rapid repairs in collaborate with public- and private-sector partners and other nonprofit organizations.
To date, Bay County Habitat for Humanity has completed six new homes, 45 repairs and 45 rehabs. Chipola Area Habitat for Humanity has completed seven new homes, 12 repairs, and one rehab.
For additional information, please see the attached report (including photos) for Habitat for Humanity International's response to both Hurricane Michael and Florence.
Project reports on GlobalGiving are posted directly to globalgiving.org by Project Leaders as they are completed, generally every 3-4 months. To protect the integrity of these documents, GlobalGiving does not alter them; therefore you may find some language or formatting issues.
If you donate to this project or have donated to this project, you can receive an email when this project posts a report. You can also subscribe for reports without donating.
