A Natural Disaster of Unprecedented Magnitude:

In August of 2005, Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast region. In its wake, Katrina …

• killed more than 1600 people
• destroyed 200,000 homes
• displaced about 1 million people
• caused over $25 billion in insurance claims

making it the nation’s most costly natural disaster. Despite the infusion of billions of dollars in federal relief, an incredible amount of work still remains. Among the most critical needs facing residents in the Gulf region today is the rebuilding of their storm-ravaged homes.

An Uncertain Future:

The government’s response has been to provide temporary FEMA trailers for these displaced families until their homes can be rebuilt. Yet as of 5/17/2007, it is estimated that 86,000 families are still living in these temporary shelters. For many, insurance settlements have either been woefully inadequate or non-existent. Their current home is a trailer that sits on their lot, in front of what remains of their home, which has possibly gone untouched for years. Sadly, their long-term (and short-term) future is, at best, uncertain.

Rebuilding Efforts?

Current efforts to rebuild have, in many areas, been dependent on volunteer organizations. Well-known Christian organizations such as Habitat for Humanity and Medical Teams International have contributed to this rebuilding effort. Thanks to these groups’ dedication, normalcy has slowly begun to return to some families in this region. However the need remains great and we’d like to help – now!

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