Long Term Recovery for Alabama's Black Belt Region
Release Date: December 21, 2005
Release Number: 1605-141
» More Information on Alabama Hurricane Katrina
MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- It is one of the most picturesque parts of the state, yet has historically been home to some of the poorest of the poor. Alabama's "Black Belt" was named for the 25-mile wide swath of thick, fertile soil that stretches across the south-central part of the state. In the early part of the 19th century, half of Alabama's enslaved population was concentrated within this ten county area. After the Civil War, the name came to refer to an area defined more by its demographic boundaries, since the majority of residents in the Black Belt continue to be of African-American descent.
When Hurricane Katrina threatened the Gulf Coast last August, the Black Belt region became a refuge for thousands of Hurricane Katrina evacuees from Mississippi, Louisiana and the Alabama Gulf Coast. They ended up in these rural communities when their resources, gasoline and the interstate highway ran out. The enormity of the damage and loss Katrina caused back home gave many evacuees no choice but to remain in the area.
After receiving emergency services these families and individuals now need longer-term recovery assistance. But the unprecedented influx of people, the rural surroundings, and lack of resources and infrastructure create extraordinary challenges for those willing to help them help themselves.
To better serve the needs of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita survivors and evacuees in this region, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) works with many volunteer organizations active in this disaster. Two local long term recovery groups have formed to specifically serve the Black Belt community in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
"The Black Belt Counties Katrina/Rita Long Term Recovery Organization" focuses on six counties: Choctaw, Greene, Hale, Marengo, Pickens and Sumter. Part of its mission is to partner with existing disaster response and recovery organizations, tap into community, state and national resources, and help meet the needs of the disaster-impacted community.
Another volunteer group working in a similar capacity is "Operation Katrina Homecare," a grassroots organization that works through the American Legion and helps evacuees in Choctaw, Greene and Sumter counties. The Choctaw County Long Term Recovery Committee, formed after Hurricane Ivan last year, also offers services to families and individuals affected by storms this year. These groups serve the needs of the evacuees by providing housing assistance, financial assistance, clothing, transportation and help in finding employment.
"This part of the state is rural and poor, and normally there is no local volunteer agency presence in place to help out with longer-term recovery," said April Jones, FEMA Voluntary Agency Liaison. "However, organizations such as the Black Belt Counties Long Term Recovery Organization and Operation Katrina Homecare are now in place and play a vital role in accessing regional volunteer agencies and local churches to assist hurricane survivors who will remain in Alabama and transition into the local community."
For more information on long-term recovery in Alabama's Black Belt, or to volunteer, call the Black Belt Counties Katrina/Rita Long Term Recovery Organization at 205-392-9612, or Operation Katrina Homecare at 334-270-1166.
Last Modified: Tuesday, 25-Apr-2006 10:33:16