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The Role and Response in Disaster Relief of Faith-based Organizations in Houma, Louisiana after Hurricane Ida

Part of: Hurricanes Collection

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 May 2025

Jacob Noel Open the ORCID record for Jacob Noel [Opens in a new window] ,
Attila J. Hertelendy Open the ORCID record for Attila J. Hertelendy [Opens in a new window] ,
Fadi Issa ,
Christina Woodward Open the ORCID record for Christina Woodward [Opens in a new window] ,
Abeer Santarisi ,
Eric D. Miller ,
Dana Mathew ,
Timothy J. Curtis Open the ORCID record for Timothy J. Curtis [Opens in a new window] ,
Ryan Boasi Open the ORCID record for Ryan Boasi [Opens in a new window]  and
Van Kenyon
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Jacob Noel*
Affiliation:
BIDMC Disaster Medicine Fellowship, Department of Emergency Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
Attila J. Hertelendy
Affiliation:
BIDMC Disaster Medicine Fellowship, Department of Emergency Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA Department of Information Systems and Business Analytics, College of Business, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA
Fadi Issa
Affiliation:
BIDMC Disaster Medicine Fellowship, Department of Emergency Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
Christina Woodward
Affiliation:
BIDMC Disaster Medicine Fellowship, Department of Emergency Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
Abeer Santarisi
Affiliation:
BIDMC Disaster Medicine Fellowship, Department of Emergency Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA Center for Anesthesia Research Excellence (CARE), Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
Eric D. Miller
Affiliation:
BIDMC Disaster Medicine Fellowship, Department of Emergency Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA United States Air Force - Reserves, Defense Pentagon, Washington, DC, USA
Dana Mathew
Affiliation:
BIDMC Disaster Medicine Fellowship, Department of Emergency Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
Timothy J. Curtis
Affiliation:
BIDMC Disaster Medicine Fellowship, Department of Emergency Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
Ryan Boasi
Affiliation:
BIDMC Disaster Medicine Fellowship, Department of Emergency Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
Van Kenyon
Affiliation:
BIDMC Disaster Medicine Fellowship, Department of Emergency Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
Eman AlShaikh
Affiliation:
BIDMC Disaster Medicine Fellowship, Department of Emergency Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA Emergency Medicine Department, Rashid Hospital, Dubai Health, Dubai, UAE
Amalia Voskanyan
Affiliation:
BIDMC Disaster Medicine Fellowship, Department of Emergency Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
Gregory R. Ciottone
Affiliation:
BIDMC Disaster Medicine Fellowship, Department of Emergency Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
*
Corresponding author: Jacob Noel; Email: janoelmd@gmail.com
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Abstract

Objectives

After Hurricane Ida, faith-based organizations were vital to disaster response. However, this community resource remains understudied. This exploratory study examines local faith-based organizational involvement in storm recovery by evaluating response activities, prevalence and desire for formal disaster education, coordination with other organizations, effect of storm damage on response, and observations for future response.

Methods

An exploratory survey was administered to community leaders throughout the Bayou Region of Louisiana consisting of questions regarding demographics, response efforts, coordination with other organizations, formal disaster training, the impact of storm damage on ability to respond, and insights into future response.

Results

Faith-based organizations are active during storm response. There is a need and desire for formal disaster education. Many organizations experienced storm damage but continued serving their community. Other emerging themes included: importance of clear communications, building stronger relationships with other organizations prior to a disaster, and coordination of resources.

Conclusions

Faith-based organizations serve an important role in disaster response. Though few have formal training, they are ready and present in the area of impact, specifically in hurricane response. In the midst of organizational and personal damage, these organizations respond quickly and effectively to provide a necessary part of the disaster management team.

Keywords

disaster medicinefaith-based organizationsFBOcommunity disaster responsehurricane responseHurricane Ida

Information

Type
Original Research
Information
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , Volume 19 , 2025 , e124
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc

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