About the Hurricane Recovery Program

The size and scope of the devastation caused by the 2005 hurricanes along the Gulf Coast are enormous. It challenged all public and private entities that have long responded to disasters. Tens of thousands of evacuees are still living away from their pre-disaster homes – housed within all fifty states. Meeting the long-term needs of affected individuals, families and communities has and still challenges all public and private agencies involved in recovery efforts.

The American Red Cross continues to serve those affected by the 2005 hurricanes through its Hurricane Recovery Program (HRP). Funded by donations to Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma, the program emphasizes an overall goal of improving the lives of individuals, families and communities directly affected by those storms. HRP supports the work of local Red Cross chapters and other organizations throughout the country as they help people and communities recover.

The objectives of HRP are to:

1. Work to improve the quality of life for hurricane survivors by providing services consistent with the mission of the Red Cross and,
2. Strengthen existing partnerships and create new ones to enhance the level of services provided to those impacted by these hurricanes and further link chapters to all segments of their communities. The focus is on long-term recovery solutions for individuals, families and communities.

The HRP consists of areas of service, which flow from the core strengths of the American Red Cross and its role in response:

1. Case management: helping survivors develop sound recovery plans and providing information, referral and access to means of recovery;
2. Emotional support for recovery: assisting survivors with their recovery by responding to the emotional needs of at-risk individuals through appropriate mental health programming;
3. Information sharing: improving service to impacted clients and communities through non-duplicative efforts to share information for effective service and actions

The Red Cross HRP is committed to careful stewardship and accountability of the resources entrusted to it by the American public. It has utilized the extensive experience gained during recent major national disasters, including but not limited to 9/11. The program is built upon the successes from these experiences as well as lessons learned. The survivors of the 2005 Gulf Coast hurricanes are not forgotten.