On August 29, 2005, the most damaging storm in U.S. history slammed the Gulf Coast.

Volunteers joined OBI in Louisiana to remove trees, debris and help residents begin the long recovery process.

Phase two relief efforts involved gutting homes and removing flood-damaged walls. Protective clothing and masks were required to avoid inhalation of dangerous mold and bacteria.

Volunteer dentists and assistants help staff OBI's dental clinic in New Orleans. Plans to launch a medical clinic are slated for mid-March.

NEW ORLEANS - Few could fathom the devastation that Katrina would bring to the Gulf Coast on August 29, 2005.

Broken levees and storm surges flooded the streets of New Orlean’s lower ninth ward; the stench of corpses, sewage and debris moved throughout city and neighborhood streets; families returned to seemingly war-torn neighborhoods – their possessions lost, their homes a rotting shell of what they used to be.

"It looked like a third world country," said Jody Herrington, OBI’s disaster relief manager. "Dirty children running around. . . .moms sitting on porches rocking their babies. . . .mattresses outside."

Phase One: Disaster Relief

Operation Blessing moved quickly to meet the overwhelming needs. Prior to Katrina making landfall, they dispatched their fleet of tractor-trailer trucks loaded with food, water, and emergency supplies to staging areas near the Gulf Coast. Within a week after Katrina hit, OBI had already delivered 958,284 pounds of food, drinks and relief supplies to victims.

As thousands waited in line at designated feeding sites to receive food and water, OBI continued to supply aid by the truckload. Working with groups such as The Salvation Army and other partnering organizations, OBI has distributed to date, over 10.4 million pounds of food and aid to hurricane victims throughout the Gulf Coast.

OBI also purchased a 53-foot mobile kitchen which arrived in Slidell, La., the first week of September. Within days, the shiny new grills and ovens were churning out thousands of hot meals – up to 7,000 per day – for hurricane victims.

"There are so many people here like me that lost everything," said Terry, a Slidell resident. "After going through all that . . . to have people here just to help us and support us . . . it feels really good," she said.

In addition to direct, hands-on assistance, OBI has tackled hurricane-related needs since day one by financing partnering churches and organizations on the local level through their Fast-Cash Grants program.

"It’s grassroots relief in the most effective way possible," said OBI President Bill Horan. "Each stricken area has a different set of needs . . . food, furniture, construction materials, gasoline, medicine, and so much more. Cash grants enable local churches to meet the needs specific to their own area."

To date, over $4.2 million in cash grants have been awarded to 214 faith-based organizations.

Phase Two: Tree & Debris Removal

OBI’s quick response caught the attention of local and federal government officials. Mayor Ben Morris of Slidell along with FEMA officials requested OBI’s assistance with the "blue roof project" to secure tarps onto damaged roofs. Teaming up with AmeriCorps, OBI mobilized groups of 50-100 volunteers, the necessary equipment and – within hours of the request – began tarping houses.

Progress was hindered, however, when fallen trees and debris-choked streets kept FEMA from accessing neighborhoods and driveways with temporary trailers. OBI purchased an 18-ton capacity crane to remove trees and debris, and literally cleared the way for nearly 22,000 FEMA trailers to be delivered to residents whose homes had been destroyed.

"Operation Blessing has impacted our whole community," said Marcell, whose Slidell home was cleared of debris and tarped by OBI. "When most organizations have already left, this is when we need them the most."

After signing a six-month lease on a warehouse space in Slidell late September, OBI expanded the scope of their operations to include construction of temporary light poles for FEMA trailers, debris removal, mold treatment and gutting out homes so residents could begin the reconstruction process.

"The fact that people have come and assisted in demolition and repair work gives you a boost," said Tom, a Slidell resident. "It gives us a great deal of encouragement and emotional energy to go on."

Phase Three: Reconstruction & Medical

With nearly 150,000 families returning home to New Orleans, the need to rebuild is critical. Most houses are still uninhabitable and with limited funds from insurance companies, few can afford the cost of repairs. To help jumpstart the reconstruction process, OBI is supplying families with sheetrock, insulation and some cases, plumbing and electrical materials.

In addition, OBI is moving their strategic center of operations from Slidell to New Orleans to better meet the needs of residents; one major need being a lack of sufficient medical care.

Two weeks ago, OBI teamed up with International Medical Alliance (IMA), the City of New Orleans Health Department and Remote Area Medical Volunteer Corps (RAM), to sponsor a medical fair in New Orleans. Over 9,600 patients were seen and an average of 650 prescriptions dispensed daily.

"Since the holidays, there has been an increase in the number of returning evacuees, many of whom have serious chronic illnesses," said Dr. Dale Betterton, Medical Director for IMA and Dr. Dorothy Davison, IMA President in a medical report.

"Not only is a free, primary health care clinic highly desirable and necessary," they indicated, "it borders on being essential for a burgeoning, ill population."

In a joint venture with IMA, Operation Blessing plans to launch a semi-permanent medical clinic in New Orleans in mid-March. The clinic will be in addition to the already fully operational dental clinic OBI initiated in cooperation with L.A. Board of Dentistry and the Department of Health and Hospitals.

"The most glaring need we see now is medical," said OBI President Bill Horan. "Hundreds of thousands of displaced Americans, mostly poor and elderly, have no medical care or prescription medicines. OBI has already provided over $22 million in free medicines, but we need to do more."

"People are desperate," said an OBI volunteer. "It’s been a long, hard journey and we’ve still got a long way to go."

HOW YOU CAN HELP
You can help by making an online donation toward OBI's disaster relief efforts. With your support, we can continue to provide emergency relief and recovery. Please make an on-line donation today.

 

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