Law Fraternity Travels to New Orleans to Aid Katrina Victims
Law Fraternity travels to the Ninth Ward in New Orleans, LA to help an elderly homeowner recover from Hurricane Katrina. For many elderly uninsured homeowners, volunteer groups are the only means for them to recover personal belongings. More than seven months after Katrina, much of the Ninth Ward remains in ruins.
New York, NY (PRWEB) April 14, 2006 -- On Saturday April 1, 2006, the NYC Alumni Chapter of Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity, International ("PAD") and Operation Helping Hands of New Orleans teamed up to clean and gut a home located in the Ninth Ward, one of the areas hardest hit by Hurricane Katrina. More than 40 volunteers generously devoted their time, money and labor to give back to a community still very much in need. The event, called the PAD FlyAway, is usually organized as a fun weekend trip to locations such as New York City, Las Vegas, Puerto Rico or St. Kitts. However, this year, attorney Stephen J. Savva, the Justice (President) of the NYC Alumni Chapter, and other PAD leaders decided that bringing a group of volunteers to New Orleans was more
important.
Partnering with Catholic Charities USA, who runs Operation Helping Hands in New Orleans, the PAD FlyAway Group was assigned to clear debris, recover personal belongings and gut a two-family home located at 1316-18 Reynes Street. The FlyAway team was comprised of more than 40 attorneys and students traveling from California, Florida, New York, New Jersey and within Louisiana.
The FlyAway team witnessed first-hand the complete devastation that
continues to exist in the lower Ninth Ward. Written in orange spray paint on a home across the street were the words "1 DOG DEAD" and "FL1" -- indicating that a one person was found alive and one pet was found dead at the home. On the front lawn of 1316-18 Reynes Street, was an overturned SUV apparently left behind by the receding flood waters from the breached levees.
The conditions discovered inside 1316-18 Reynes Street were nothing short of heart-wrenching. Armed with masks and gloves, the FlyAway team removed tons of debris, clothing, furniture and appliances one piece at a time with respect and care. The FlyAway team carefully sifted through the debris to recover personal belongings such as jewelry, photographs, statues and a handful of other personal items. Although the vast majority of the items found in 1316-18 Reynes Street were unsalvageable, the foundation of the home appeared sound.
After completing work, the FlyAway group was informed that the home was owned by Mrs. Rose Migliore, an elderly woman afflicted with Polio with no insurance. Unfortunately, too many residents on Reynes Street had no insurance. Although many months have passed since Katrina passed over the Ninth Ward, Reynes Street remains mostly vacant, with no running water or electricity and little evidence of any construction. The only noticeable traffic is a Red Cross truck occasionally passing by to provide food and water to volunteers and
homeowners working in the area.
Upon returning to the Le Pavilion Hotel, members of the team had an
opportunity to speak with Mrs. Migliore on the telephone. Mrs. Migliore was most gracious and appreciative of the fact that someone cared enough to travel to New Orleans to help her. She told the group of volunteers that her home had been built by her husband and brother-in-law several decades ago. The group reported to Mrs. Migliore that they found some of her personal belongings and that the fine workmanship of her husband and brother-in-law was evident once the home had been cleared of its contents. After hearing the joy in Mrs. Migliore's voice, it became clear to all involved in the FlyAway program that New Orleans was the perfect location for the 2006 PAD FlyAway.
On Sunday April 2, 2006, Mr. Savva and fellow PAD Alumnus Carmen McCormick, Esq., met briefly with New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin at the Le Pavilion Hotel to provide him with information about 2006 FlyAway. Mr. Savva requested that the Mayor's office send a letter of encouragement that could be shared with Mrs. Migliore and the rest of the FlyAway team. Mayor Nagin was most gracious in telling Mr. Savva and Ms. McCormick that he would take care of it and accomodate their request.
For many uninsured homeowners in New Orleans and other cities dealing with natural disasters, programs administered by PAD's NYC Alumni Chapter, Catholic Charities, the Red Cross and other national relief organizations are the only means for residents to recover their personal belongings and begin rebuilding. For those who have not personally witnessed the conditions created by Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, they continue to be far more extensive than what is generally known or reported. Scores of cars remain overturned, miles of homes exist as piles of debris and food continues to decay in water-logged refrigerators scattered throughout the area.
As the 2006 hurricane season rapidly approaches, we must all remember that this is a national tragedy that can and probably will happen again. Until and unless we prevent natural disasters, which does not appear likely, the road to recovery continues to be just one home at a time.
PAD's NYC Alumni Chapter is proud to have traveled to New Orleans in
furtherance of the Phi Alpha Delta's mission of "Service to the Student, the Profession and the Community." The New York City Alumni Chapter hopes to return to New Orleans with a new group of volunteers in the near future.
The complete list of volunteers and sponsors that made the 2006 PAD FlyAway possible are: Corbin Adams; Christopher Bordenave; Jessica Boyd; Marilyn Callwood; Brittney Clark; James Erwin; Shari Erwin; Aliciamarie Falcetta; Leon Feingold; Cassie Ford ; Giselle Gaviria; Erica Gibson; Channing Guidry; Arnold Hirsch; Marguerite Holmes; Chelsea Howard; Angela Howard; Kristi Kligerman; Janise Lampley; Iriane Lee; Annice Littlejohn; Nova Southeastern University; Samantha Maitland; Carmen McCormick; Erin McKenna; Tiffany Morris; JohnPaul Ogbuokiri; Dru Pardo; Randall Poerschke; Daria Pratcher; Quality Built; Kimberly Rescola; Trevor Rescola; Kasey Robinson; Monique Sawyer; Stephen J. Savva; Amanda Sidari; Emerald Skipper; Rodney Sparrow; Bryan Stephany; Dawn Sullivan; Sharee Tucker; and Nicole Washington.
For more info visit http//:www.PADProjectKatrina.com
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