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bringing together Justice Community members to provide a
coordinated response.
o In response to Hurricane Laura, the subcommittee again
implemented the Statewide Disaster Plan for Legal Assistance.
LA Appleseed completed the update of the disaster training
manual for volunteers. The 1-800-310-7029 disaster hotline
was activated and provides a recorded message providing
referral information. In addition, the LSBA Disaster Response
website was activated providing vital legal information and
volunteer opportunities for attorneys. Free legal answers has
become an integral component of disaster response.
o The ATJ Disaster Response subcommittee also met regularly
after Hurricanes Delta and Zeta.
o The current disaster plan was updated to address the new
issue that arose during the pandemic and presented to the
subcommittee.
o In conjunction with Southeast Louisiana Legal Services and
Lagniappe Law Lab the subcommittee submitted a grant
proposal to the United Way to secure funding to update and
automate the disaster hotline. This grant was approved and
stakeholders from SLLS, ALSC, Lagniappe Law Lab, and the
LSBA are meeting regularly to implement this grant.
o After Hurricane Ida, the subcommittee implemented the
ABA/YLD Disaster Hotline and began to meet regularly to
discuss pertinent issues. FEMA and Red Cross representatives
regularly attend these meetings as well. After establishing the
hotline, one of the first initiatives of the subcommittee was to
develop trainings for volunteer attorneys. On September 22nd,
two one hour trainings were broadcast via Zoom on FEMA
applications/ appeals and insurance claims. These CLEs were
held in conjunction with the re-scheduled evictions training for
judges. All 3.5 hours of CLE were recorded and posted to
probono.net/la for future use. The next initiative of the
subcommittee was to help facilitate a disaster legal clinic with
the City of New Orleans scheduled for Friday, October 29th.
This clinic will be held from 10:00 - 2:00 at Joe Brown
Community Center in New Orleans East where legal aid and
volunteer attorneys will be on hand to answer questions related
to disaster law issues (ex. FEMA appeals, insurance claims,
contractor fraud, etc.).
▪ Identify and assess current substantive legal issues faced by civil legal
aid providers; and
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