Hurricane Ida made landfall in Louisiana on Sunday, August 29, the 16th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. This powerful category 4 storm caused heavy rainfall, strong winds, severe flooding, and widespread power outages. Remnants of the storm went on to cause deadly flooding through the Northeast. AHAH launched a response program in La Place and Ponchatoula, Louisiana in September of 2021 to support recovery efforts within affected communities. This work will continue well into 2022.
Hurricane Ida left a broad and deep path of destruction; it will take a concerted effort among state and federal agencies and local and national relief organizations working together to stabilize families left reeling without power, cut off by inaccessible roads, or knee-deep in water and debris. Just one day after the storm made landfall, 18,000 people had already filed for federal aid.
Over the next 18 months, All Hands and Hearts will mobilize the power of more than 750 volunteers to assist 2,000 disaster survivors. Immediate activities will include debris and tree removal, roof tarping, mucking and gutting and mold sanitation. As we transition to long-term recovery, we will prioritize vulnerable households who are unable to help themselves and at risk of falling through the cracks.
AHAH is planning on staying as long as possible to help those hard-hit areas where there are not enough state and local, public or private resources to address housing recovery needs in a timely way. In addition, we repair damaged homes using sustainable materials and techniques that build community resilience in the face of future disasters. Note: We are committed to the safety of our teams and communities by working in a COVID-safe way.
