Long-Term Recovery Committees May Provide Other Avenues of Assistance
Release Date: November 19, 2008
Release Number: 1785-089
» More Information on Florida Tropical Storm Fay
ORLANDO, Fla. -- In the aftermath of Tropical Storm Fay, Florida residents with disaster-related needs not met by federal or state assistance programs can explore another alternative by learning about their local Long-Term Disaster Recovery Committee (LTRC).
These committees have roots in voluntary non-profit agencies, faith-based organizations or community-based organizations. As they are formed, they may receive guidance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Governors Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service (Volunteer Florida), the Florida Disaster Recovery Fund and their respective Voluntary Agency Liaisons. Then, after local, state and federal governmental bodies have completed their missions in the recovery; the committees step in and keep up the momentum.
In the recovery from Tropical Storm Fay as in other such efforts, the Long-Term Recovery Committees may be able to help those who still have unmet needs.
An LTRC may serve as a clearinghouse and point of contact for volunteer efforts to repair damaged housing, mediating between homeowners in need and volunteer groups that come to do the repair work. It may also write grants that are used to purchase recovery-related supplies.
Each disaster-affected community may take its own unique approach in structuring its LTRO, but the general function is much the same.
Voluntary agencies that may interface with an LTRC include examples such as Catholic Charities, Lutheran Services for Florida/Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR), Florida Presbyterian Disaster Assistance Network, and United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR).
Among the most active LTRCs associated with Tropical Storm Fay are:
BREVARD COUNTY
Brevard Long-Term Recovery Coalition
Phone: (321) 631-2740
Case manager: Gerri Ludwig (Or leave message for Keith Heinly)
COLLIER COUNTY
Immokalee Helping Our People in Emergencies (IHOPE)
Phone: (239) 657-3889
Supervisor of Case Managers: David Grove
IHOPE, P.O. Box 777, Immokalee FL 34143
DUVAL, BAKER and NASSAU COUNTIES
Northeast Florida Coalition on Recovery (NEFCOR)
(Prefers email to phone: DaveTuttle@PresbyterianSocialMinistries.org)
Phone: (904) 338-0920
President: Dave Tuttle
1016 Oak St., Jacksonville FL 32204
HENDRY, GLADES and OKEECHOBEE COUNTIES
Community Rebuilding Ecumenical Workforce (CREW)
Phone: (863) 983-2390
Speak to a case worker or Executive Director: Trish Adams
Physical Address: 944 Harlem Academy Avenue, Clewiston FL 33440
Mailing Address: 352 West Arcade Ave., Clewiston FL 33440
LAKE AND SUMTER COUNTIES
Lake and Sumter Emergency Recovery (LASER)
Phone: (352) 483-1029 www.laserfl.com
Executive Director: Michael Tart
27 East Pinehurst Blvd., Suite B, Eustis FL 32726
LEE COUNTY
Lee County Long-Term Recovery Committee
Phone: (239) 533-7930
Coordinator: Patricia Howell
Dept. of Human Services, 2440 Thompson St., Ft. Myers FL 33901
LEON, GADSDEN, JEFFERSON, LIBERTY, MADISON, TAYLOR and WAKULLA COUNTIES
Big Bend Community Organizations Active in Disaster (COAD)
Phone: (850) 606-1970
Jeri Bush (Director: Volunteer Leon)
918 Railroad Ave., Tallahassee FL 32310
Phone: (850) 205-6096
Sara Simmer (American Red Cross)
187 Office Plaza Drive, Tallahassee FL 32301
POLK COUNTY
Rebuild Polk After Disaster (RPAD)
Phone: (863) 679-1530
Executive Director: Alice Spivey; Caseworker: Beverly Gibson
652 State Road 60 West, Lake Wales FL 33853
SEMINOLE COUNTY
Seminole H.E.A.R.T.
Message Line: (407) 665-2650
Board Chair: Emily Furlong
P.O. Box 951636, Lake Mary FL 32795
ST. LUCIE COUNTY
Inspired Network to Achieve Community Together (INTACT)
Phone: (772) 462-1777 (ask to speak to INTACT)
E-mail: scottR@stlucieco.gov
437 North 7th Street, Ft. Pierce FL 34950
VOLUSIA COUNTY
Volusia Interfaith/Agencies Networking in Disaster (VIND)
Phone: (386) 255-5510; www.floridavind.info
P.O. Box 9364, Daytona Beach FL 32120
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.
Last Modified: Wednesday, 19-Nov-2008 13:06:55