September
7, 2007
LA-1603-07-07-706
Media Contact: 504-762-2477
NEW ORLEANS – Seventh
Ward Community members
gathered at First Pilgrims
Baptist Church’s Housing
Fair Sept. 1, 2007 to learn
about assistance available
to residents rebuilding in
the area.
Those who attended
received information from
businesses, governmental and
volunteer agencies,
including the Federal
Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA). Shelia Forest, a
FEMA community outreach
education specialist, and
Joe Sloan, National Flood
Insurance Program (NFIP)
specialist, spoke to area
residents and local leaders
with questions regarding
recovery efforts. Sloan and
Forest also handed out
publications explaining the
NFIP and mitigation issues.
"We’re here to assist
them in rebuilding,
relocating or renovating,"
said Forest. "We want to
ensure the local community
has the most updated
information to help them
build their houses safer and
stronger."
FEMA’s availability to
the public on Saturday is
important for the local
community because not
everyone has the ability to
attend this type of event
during the work week,
according to Forest.
"There are some people
who come back to New Orleans
for the weekend to make
repairs to their home. City
Hall and other government
agencies aren’t open then,"
Forest said. "People still
need the information, and
it’s important that we’re
here to give it to them."
Several banks,
contractors and
representatives from The
Road Home Program, Louisiana
Department of Insurance and
the Housing Authority of New
Orleans also distributed
recovery related
information.
"We’re very happy to have
folks from FEMA here," said
Mary Mitchell, First
Pilgrims Baptist Church
member who assisted in
organizing the event. "We’re
letting the community know
where they can go for help
– whether it’s Road Home,
FEMA or their local bank."
FEMA coordinates the
federal government’s role in
preparing for, preventing,
mitigating the effects of,
responding to and recovering
from all domestic disasters,
whether natural or man-made,
including acts of terror.
