Recovery, the longest and final stage of the disaster process, takes lots of planning, time, and paperwork.  It actually starts during the Relief Stage.  For example, Gulf Coast counties, towns, and cities have been wrestling with a FEMA recommendation to build everything along the coastal front on stilts.  This requires changes to the building code and approval.  Only then can new building permits be issued as residents attempt to move on with their lives.  This is called mitigation, or planning to avoid the risk for the next event.  In the case of New Orleans, this was a significant barrier toward starting of rebuilding, as officials tried to decide on the parameters for rebuilding and where to build.

  The initial steps in this phase involve 1. insurance settlement; 2. if a declared disaster, FEMA personal assistance services – medical, dental, prescription, crisis counseling, grants- housing repairs, temporary housing or trailers, transportation, and low interest SBA mortgage loans up to based on ability to pay (up to $200,000 for home rebuild and $40,000 contents); and 3.other agencies that provide assistance. 

  For many, the insurance is adequate, there are no building code changes, and architect work or reconstruction may start in a few days.   

  For others, the insurance policy, through lack of provisions, only partially paid what it is going to cost to rebuild or the insurance company stalls.  FEMA then sees what it can provide from its many programs.  For many of this group, the combined insurance and FEMA assistance is enough to cover their rebuild cost and they start preparations to rebuild. 

   Finally there is the “all-other” group.  Many of them did not have insurance, FEMA provided a trailer for a set period of time (two years) and other programs, but they are stuck with some or no money to rebuild.  This has been the fate of many along the Gulf Coast and is where the long-term recovery organization steps in.

  The long-term recovery organization is formed as a non-profit corporation with the purpose of helping those who fall-between the cracks and are unable to rebuild and return to their homes.  Homeowners are referred to as clients and they are assigned a case manager who stays with them and works through the entire process of determining their options are and begins developing their plan. With this information, the case manager reviews the numerous programs availability for which the client may be eligible and a construction estimate is prepared.  The manager then presents the package to the executive committee to determine if other resources can be brought, i.e. local building trade company will provide the roofing material.  If everything is agreeable a contract is completed between the homeowner and the long-term recovery organization. 

   Typically, these organizations look to church teams to provide much of their construction labor, which keeps the house, cost low and provides the opportunity to serve more victims.  There is a department or individual within these organizations that coordinates with volunteers’ team leaders in order to arrange housing and what the options are regarding food, bedding, etc.  Likewise, the teams provide the list of skills or jobs that they are able to perform.  At times, some of the work has to be contracted to local licensed electricians or plumbers to meet building code requirements.    

   Once the home is completed, the local building authority completes their inspections and issues a certificate of occupancy, which is required before the house can again be a residence. 

Local and regional examples of long-term recovery organizations are:

1.        Cobb Disaster Recovery – complete and closed www.cobbrecovery.org

2.        South Georgia – in recovery www.sgaumc.com/disaster/index.cfm

     Sumter Disaster Recovery  1-888-435-7191

             Crawford Disaster Recovery – no phone yet

3.        Louisiana – 1-225-345-5193 www.laumcstormrelief.com

4.        Mississippi Disaster Response– 866-435-7091 www.mississippi-umc.org, click You can help

    Sumter Disaster Recovery has about  work for  volunteer rebuild teams until November 2007.    Call above for more details.  

    Louisiana, and Mississippi need volunteer rebuild teams any time after August 1^st and any time into 2008 except for a break around Christmas 2007.

   Many Georgia churches already have trips scheduled.  What about you?  Will you help?