Twin Ports Long-Term Recovery Committee Being Formed
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DULUTH - The Twin Ports is taking more steps to help flood victims recover from the storm.
Organizers are now hosting information sessions and setting up long term recovery committees.
“We know that the needs are extremely high here because most people didn't have insurance," United Way of Greater Duluth President Paula Reed said.
Flood waters are no longer on the rise but the cost of damage to the private sector is.
"I think we're probably looking in the $8–$10 million range in terms of just financial resource that we're going to need," said Reed.
Long term recovery committees are being set up to identify and tackle flood victims unmet needs.
"In any type of disaster you need to have a leadership team that kind of takes charge and facilitates recovery efforts," said Reed.
First information sessions will be held to educate the community on the long term recovery process.
"We're really talking about what are the best practices that other organizations have used after a storm,” Long Term Recovery Committee assistant Drew Digby said. “What are the best ways to put resources together to help as many people as possible."
Long term recovery committee members will be recruited during the sessions.
"We need people from credit unions, we need insurance agents, we also need people who are active in their community, we need faith leaders," said Digby.
There will be a regional long term committee made up of representatives from seven northland counties that will take care of fundraising, marketing and communications.
"When you go out and make a request as a region for you know a truck load of sheet rock or whatever a need might be its going to be received better than having 10 individual requests come in from smaller groups," said Reed.
Subcommittees will form under the regional committee which will provide flood victims with information and resources.
"To really help families get as far back to whole as they possibly can," said Digby.
Organizers are hoping all of the committees are set up before the legislature meets so they can hit the ground running after the session wraps up.
The first long term recovery committee meeting will be August 8th, 2012 at 3:00 p.m. in the Ordean building conference room A.
More meetings will be set up for all of the counties in the upcoming weeks.
