Hurricane Ida Recovery Resources

Hurricane Ida Recovery Resources

As a group that is continuously focused on the well-being and healing of New Orleans, the CYPB team understands that this is an incredibly challenging time for our community. If you are experiencing strong emotional reactions in the aftermath of Ida, please know that this is normal and you are not alone. Below are steps you can take to help manage emotional well-being. Remember that these are all suggestions and some might not be possible right now. We encourage you to just take what you need, lean into community supports when you're ready, and be gentle with yourself and those around you. We've also included a collection of local resources for those in need of assistance.

• Recognize that this is a challenging time but one that you can work to manage. You’ve tackled hardships at other times in your life. Tap into the skills you used to get through past challenges.
• Allow yourself to mourn the losses you have experienced. Recognize that you may experience a variety of emotions and their intensity will likely less over time.
• Take a news break. Watching replays of footage from the hurricane can make your stress even greater. Often, the media tries to interest viewers by presenting worst case scenarios. These may not be representative of your home or community.
• Ask for support from people who care about you and who will listen and empathize with your situation. But keep in mind that your typical support system may be weakened if those who are close to you also have experienced or witnessed the hurricane.
• Find ways to express yourself when ready. Communicating your experience through talking with family or close friends, keeping a diary, or other forms of self-expression may be a source of comfort. Find out about local support groups led by appropriately trained and experienced professionals. Support groups are often available in communities following large-scale disasters. People can experience relief and comfort connecting with other hurricane survivors who have had similar reactions and emotions. These can be especially helpful for people with limited personal support systems.
• Try to engage in healthy behaviors where possible to enhance your ability to cope with excessive stress. Get plenty of rest. If you experience feelings of anxiety or difficulties sleeping, you may be able to find some relief through relaxation techniques (check out our Healing Practices Toolkit for ideas). Limit alcohol since it can increase a sense of depression and/or impede you from doing what is necessary to be resilient and cope with events.
• Establish or reestablish routines such as trying to eat meals at regular times and following an exercise program as much as possible. Take some time off from the demands of daily life by pursuing hobbies or other enjoyable activities.
• If possible, avoid major life decisions such as switching jobs, because these activities tend to be highly stressful.

Emergency Response

• 911 for life-threatening emergencies only
• If 911 is down, call 504-821-2222

Non-Emergency Response

• For non-emergency services, call 311 or 504-658-2299
• Text 311 by texting “Hello” to 311YES (311-937)
• Send non-Ida related incidents by text so phone lines can remain open
• NOLA-311 online
• For non-emergency services requiring NOPD assistance, call 504-821-2222.

City & State Updates

• Text “NOLAREADY” to 77295
• Text “IDA” to 67283
• Sign up for phone calls at Smart911

Emergency Shelter

• Call 211 for local shelter and other emergency and resource information
• Text your zip code to 898-211
• Text “LASHELTER” to 898211
• Text “SHELTER” to 43362
• FEMA Evacuation Hotels
• Red Cross Shelter Map
• City overflow shelter for the homeless at the Rosenwald Rec Center (Broad & Earhart)

Requests for Aid

• Ida Support Network

Food Assistance

• DSNAP Pre-Registration
• SNAP recipients can use SNAP to purchase hot meals until September 28th.
• Open grocery stores
• Volunteer Opportunities
• • Volunteer to prepare meals with World Central Kitchen
  • Volunteer to prepare food with Culture Aid NOLA at the Howlin' Wolf

Healthcare

• Special Needs Registry
• Disaster Relief Program for kidney patients

Roads

• New Orleans Traffic and street flooding reports
• DOTD updates on road conditions
• Call 511 for State Road Closures
• Use GasBuddy to see which stations have fuel.
• If a traffic signal isn’t functioning, treat it as a four-way stop.

Energy and Power

• Entergy Outages Map
• Entergy Storm Center
• Text “REG” to 36778 for Entergy Updates
• To report an outage, text “OUT” to 36778 or call 1-800-9-OUTAGE (1-800-968-8243)

Sewerage and Water Board

• SWBNO Drainage System Facts
• Call 504-52-WATER (504-529-2837)
• If 52-WATER is down, call 504-864-8266
• S&WB says for the moment, if you don’t need to use water, don’t use it.

Disaster Recovery and FEMA

• Report damage to your home
• Text “DRC” to 43362
• For FEMA individual or business disaster assistance, register at 800-621-FEMA (3362) or access online
• There is a false rumor being shared on social media saying FEMA is paying for hotels in Louisiana. This is false.
• FEMA Flood Disaster Resources
• Louisiana Economic Development Flood Recovery Assistance

Mental Health

• LA Office of Behavioral Health Keep Calm Line - 1-866-310-7977
• Behavioral Health Recovery Outreach Line - 1-833-333-1132
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline - 1-800-273-8255
• Crisis Text Line - Text “REACHOUT” to 741741

COVID-19

• Find vaccines near you
• Text “COVIDNOLA” to 77295

Business Recovery Response

• Louisiana Business Emergency Operations Center
• Disaster Help Desk for Business

Rental Assistance

• NOLA Renters Rights text numbers: 513-545-9197 or 504-517-5470

Relief Funds

• Feed the Second Line
• Mutual Aid Louisiana
• Imagine Water Works
• Cajun Navy Relief
• Culture Aid NOLA
• Southern Solidarity
• Another Gulf is Possible

If there are any groups or resources we missed, feel free to use the Community Announcements feature or drop a comment below and we'll update this post.