As the nation begins to comprehend the devastating affects of Hurricane Katrina, the AIA is developing an action plan to support those affected, utilizing the skills and resources we have as a national organization, community of components, and network of individuals.

Katrina’s Effect on the AIA

Seventeen AIA components and hundreds of members and firms were directly impacted by Hurricane Katrina. Neighbor-region components are already offering support, and therefore they, too, will be strained by the storm. Specifically, the components directly affected include:

• Louisiana – AIA Louisiana, AIA Baton Rouge, AIA Central Louisiana, AIA Louisiana Coastal, AIA Monroe, AIA New Orleans, AIA Shreveport, AIA South Louisiana, AIA Southwest Louisiana
  
• Mississippi – AIA Mississippi
  
• Alabama – Alabama Council/AIA, AIA Birmingham, AIA East Alabama, AIA Mobile, AIA Montgomery, AIA North Alabama, and AIA Northeast Alabama.

Action Plan

The AIA Hurricane Katrina Response Action Plan is comprised of three stages: emergency, relief and recovery.

Emergency Stage

The emergency stage lasts two to three weeks, during which staff, membership, and member-to-member actions are helping those affected and strategizing how to offer continued support.

• Staff initiatives include action-plan strategy meetings, necessity collection, and fundraising for the American Red Cross, Salvation Army, and the AIA Displaced Architects Fund.
  
• Emergency responses at the membership level include enhancing the Web page to guide and inform members, holding telephone conferences among parties key to relief, and raising and directing funds to the American Red Cross, Salvation Army ,and the AIA Displaced Architects Fund.
  
• Members are also supporting other members during the emergency stage. The AIA Hurricane Response Exchange, a virtual online resource-matching center, will be launched shortly to provide much needed resources– employment, housing, office space, equipment and furniture, transportation, and local resources.

Relief Stage

The relief stage may last up to six months. During this time the AIA will still offer direct support to those in need and assist components in their efforts to provide relief. Additionally, the AIA will offer its expertise assessing damage to buildings and historic structures and landscapes.

Recovery Stage

Finally, the recovery stage is when the AIA and its members can help rebuild the structures that support affected communities. It is also a time when AIA expertise can help devise long-term plans to enhance community fabric and mitigate future disasters. The stage can last up to three years.

What you can do

Many within the AIA are providing support or planning to do so. We encourage organizational members and friends to contribute financially, offer their services, and reach out individually. We also hope those helping will keep us informed of their efforts and achievements. Their spirit is part of what makes the AIA the premiere organization it is.