In the months since Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, Gulf Coast recovery efforts have shifted from emergency relief to the long-term process of rebuilding and resettling the region. Inspired by the need to build a comprehensive communications platform to aid recovery efforts across the state, PolicyLink designed and managed an inclusive process to bring together the best local and national experts to develop www.LouisianaRebuilds.info, a world-class Internet-based communications platform that serves as a "first stop on the way home"—whether "home" is Louisiana or a new start in an unfamiliar community.
The Web Portal: A Invaluable Resource in Recovery Efforts
The comprehensive web portal collects information from and for residents, state and local government, the private sector, and nonprofit organizations, and provides one central point of access to information. Recognizing the portal as the most prominent, comprehensive resource for rebuilding information, Governor Kathleen Blanco’s office is using LouisianaRebuilds.info as a gateway to The Road Home, a registry for residents with damaged or destroyed houses. In March 2006, the governor’s office, PolicyLink, and other members of the portal team, held a press conference announcing The Road Home and LouisianaRebuilds.info at Joy Corporation, a community technology center in Zachary, Louisiana. Displaced residents from a nearby trailer community—who rely heavily on Joy Corporation’s accessibility, free computer services, and technical assistance—were invited to explore the portal and meet with Governor Blanco. LouisianaRebuilds.info was covered by numerous local newspaper, radio, and television stations, and also highlighted in USA Today. With over 100,000 visitors viewing over 2 million pages in the first two months of operation, the portal has been a premier resource for Louisiana’s recovery efforts.
Earlier in the fall, through the national partnership with the One Economy Corporation and the local partnership with Carrollton Technology Partners, the portal team launched Version 2.0 of the site. The successful September 15, 2006 launch marked the site’s transition from an emergency-response recovery site to a long-term site that will serve the recovery needs of Louisiana over the next few years.
Toll Free Access for Offline Assistance
The web portal serves as the hub of a broad communications initiative that includes a toll free telephone line (1-877-LA-Rebuilds) and a multitude of offline strategies to reach displaced residents for whom the Internet is unfamiliar or not easily accessible. Both the portal and its content are being publicized through numerous sources, including: mainstream and ethnic newspapers, radio, and television announcements; billboards and community flyers; and faith-based networks and other on-the-ground organizers.