Catholic Charities Tornado Recovery Efforts

Updated May 23, 2017

Click here for update as of 5/23/17.

Update as of 3/17/17: To date, CCANO has assessed hundreds of individuals and helped them navigate FEMA registration, find temporary housing and get necessary supplies to begin their recovery process. Moving forward, Catholic Charities is now in the process of long-term recovery planning and will continue to serve those impacted.

Thank you to all who have donated to our tornado recovery efforts! Thanks to your generous support, we have been able to help hundreds with counseling, case management, legal support and connections to countless other resources. To date, we have received over $129,000 in donations and grants to help us bring aid and relief to those in need.

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Once again, our community is being called upon to assist our neighbors who were impacted by the recent tornadoes. See information below on where to get help and how you can help those in need.

Catholic Charities Tornado Recovery TeamCatholic Charities staff were immediately on the ground offering assistance after the February tornado in New Orleans East. To date, our case management staff has assessed over 300 individuals and will begin the process of long-term recovery planning in the next several weeks. Services rendered have included counseling, food and supply distribution with Second Harvest Food Bank and other community partners, help navigating FEMA and temporary housing for the most vulnerable of those impacted. In addition, CCANO volunteers have put in 80 hours of service in the past five days.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Volunteers are needed to sort and distribute food and cleaning supplies at Resurrection of Our Lord Catholic Church in New Orleans East (9701 Hammond St., New Orleans, LA 70127) this week. Volunteers are encouraged to wear closed toe shoes and bring their own water. Only 8 volunteers are needed per day (4 per shift). Shifts are as follows:

Wednesday, February 15: 10AM – 2PM, 1PM – 5PM
Thursday, February 16: 10AM – 2PM, 1PM – 5PM
Friday, February 17: 10AM – 2PM, 1PM – 5PM

If interested, please email your name, cell phone number and which day and shift you are signing up for to [email protected]. To make sure there are not more than 4 volunteers per shift, you will receive a confirmation email that  you are approved to volunteer.

if you Need Assistance

Visit nola.gov/ready/ for up-to-date information from Mayor Landrieu and the City of New Orleans.

The City opened a temporary shelter at Joe W. Brown Recreation Center (5601 Read Blvd, New Orleans, LA 70127) for impacted residents. The New Orleans Health Department, with support from the Red Cross, Catholic Charities and NOFD, will assist affected individuals. As of 10AM on Wednesday, February 15, 2017, the temporary shelter is closed. As of Sunday, February 12, the Regional Transit Authority (RTA) is no longer providing shuttle service to or from the shelter. As of Sunday, February 12, the shelter is no longer distributing food and water to those not staying overnight.

Starting on Monday, February 13, FEMA will be registering individuals for federal assistance. In order to receive federal aid, you must first register with FEMA, which you can do in the following ways:

  • Visit their website to apply online.
  • Call the registration phone number at 1-800-621-3362.
  • Visit the FEMA disaster recovery center located at the East New Orleans Public Library (5641 Read Boulevard, New Orleans, LA 70127). The recovery center’s regular hours are Monday – Saturday, 8AM to 6PM and Sundays, 10AM to 4PM.

As of Sunday, February 12, the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services’ temporary replacement SNAP benefit distribution location at the New Orleans East Regional Library is closed. Anyone still in need of assistance can visit a DCFS location. Find a DCFS location near you.

Entergy customers are encouraged to visit their website and sign up for text message alerts and updates. Downed power lines can be reported by calling 1-800-9OUTAGE.

if you want to help

Tornado Recovery in New Orleans EastThank you to everyone who has donated to CCANO’s tornado recovery efforts thus far! Thanks to your generous support, we have been able to help hundreds of affected individuals with counseling, case management, legal support and connections to countless other resources.

Contributions made to Catholic Charities for tornado recovery efforts will serve the long-term needs of those affected.

Make a contribution >>