CAN-DO spent more than two months on the ground in Gerritson Beach, NY to provide immediate relief for the residents devastated by Superstorm Sandy–one of the deadliest and most destructive storms of the 2012 Atlanta hurricane season.

What we did:
– Set-up a central distribution command center and reorganized existing distribution tents and containers along with Gerritson Beach Cares to streamline relief efforts for the community.
– Distributed a container full of brand new warm clothing items that were generously donated by The North Face to hundreds of Gerritson Beach families who had lost just about everything after Superstorm Sandy.
– Created an interim community grief-counseling center where residents could speak with licensed professionals seven days a week.
– Created an interim community wellness center where residents could take a break from clean-up and receive complimentary acupuncture and message therapy and speak to wellness experts.
– Set-up an educational hub where residents could come and learn about proper mold remediation and heath dangers of not properly removing the toxic mold in their homes from the storm. We discovered hundreds of families were already experiencing side effects from the mold but didn’t know the proper steps to remediate the mold. CAN-DO helped negotiate discounted rates for residents from reputable mold remediation companies in the area as well as advocated for residents negotiated with insurance companies to remove the mold.
– Partnered with Gerritson Beach Cares to identify some of the “worse case scenario” families impacted by the mold and help provide immediate relief to these families by cleaning their homes which included replacing sheet rock and insulation of air filter systems.

Read more about the project and see photos, videos here.

“When a disaster hits they ask Who Dat? We say, CAN-DO Dat!” -Former NFL Saints player Jabari Greer

CAN-DO spent two months on the ground in St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana collaborating with local residents, organizations, community and parish leaders to help develop innovative methods in order to speed-up aid and effectively provide what was needed most to residents. Our purpose was for the CAN-DO team to show the residents of LaPlace, Louisiana that they had not been forgotten, and to illustrate how local companies, vendors and volunteers from across south Louisiana could rally around this neglected community to show their support and provide immediate relief.

What we did:
– Set up command center to distribute tools, cleaning supplies, clothing, meals, toys, emergency supplies and disaster packs to neighborhoods in LaPlace, LA.
– Organized volunteer teams to work in unison with the parish, assisting in debris removal from LaPlace resident’s yards and organized trash pick-up from state hired contractors.
– Aided in demolition and rebuilding of flooded homes.
– Cleaned and dehumidified homes from mold and mildew.
– Worked with FEMA to help relocate families displaced by Isaac.
– Provided security at neighborhood entrances and throughout neighborhoods in LaPlace to protect from looting.
– Organized a neighborhood block party for the residents of LaPlace and teamed up with the New Orleans Saints to help us distribute new toys, clothes, and food, as well as boosting the moral of hundreds of residents’ effected by Isaac.
– Christmas day, CAN-DO has partnered with Domino’s Pizza, Celebration Church and residents of the local community on distribute toys to children who lost everything after Hurricane Isaac.

Read more about CAN-DO’s Hurricane Isaac relief project and see additional videos, photos here.

http://blog.google.org/2012/08/tropical … ponse.html

The following Jefferson Parish locations are providing limited supplies of ICE, WATER and MRE’s beginning at 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. tomorrow, Friday, August 31, 2012.
-Alario Center, 2000 Segnette Blvd., Westwego
-Butch Duhe Playground, 1710 10th St., Kenner
-Harahan City Hall, 6437 Jefferson Hwy., Harahan
-Helen Cox High School, 2200 Lapalco Blvd, Harvey
-First Parish Court, 920 David Dr., Metairie
-Lafitte Town Hall, 2654 Jean Lafitte Boulevard, Lafitte