Hurricane Katrina: Models for Effective Emergency Response in the Asian American Community: A study by the Asian American Justice Center as part of the Asian Pacific American Legal Center of Southern California and the Tomas Rivera Policy Institute’s project on Disaster Preparedness in Urban Communities: Lessons Learned from the Recent Catastrophes Relevant to Asian and Latino Communities in Southern California, this case study details best practices that emerged from the national and regional response to Hurricane Katrina within the Asian American community, including national advocacy efforts, education of federal officials, groundbreaking Asian American legal clinics, and the formation of vital national and local coalitions to promote effective disaster response for Gulf Coast Asian American populations.
Fact Sheet – Language Rights and the Stafford Act: What You Should Know About Disasters and Limited English Proficient Populations: This is an easy reference outlining the new federal mandate that requires FEMA to plan for LEP populations in disasters, disseminate disaster information in formats that LEP populations can understand, and create a clearinghouse of best practices.
AAJC Comments to Proposed National Response Framework (NRF): AAJC is deeply concerned that the Department of Homeland Security and Federal Emergency Management Agency have not released their respective LEP guidances pursuant to EO 13166. The NRF does not stipulate that interpreters must be provided during a disaster without undue delay, nor does it reflect the recent mandate from the new Stafford Act that FEMA must plan for LEP populations in disasters.
Emergency Preparedness Info from the Center for Disease Control
Federal Assistance Information from U.S. Citizenship and Immigrations Services (USCIS)
Federal Assistance Information from FEMA
Federal Assistance Information from Department of Health and Human Services
- The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Fact Sheet - The CMS has acted to assure that the Medicare, Medicaid and State Children’s Health Insurance Programs will flex to accommodate the emergency health care needs of beneficiaries and medical providers in the Hurricane Katrina devastated states.
Federal Assistance Information from Social Security Administration
- SSA's Program Operations Manual System - SSA's internal emergency procedures that SSA employees receive to help those affected by Hurricane Katrina. Individuals with concerns regarding lost documents and SSI can be found here.
Immigration Related Information
Historical Materials from Hurricane Katrina Advocacy
- Chairman David Obey releases summary of Emergency Wartime Bill which includes Gulf Coast disaster supplementals
- National Low Income Housing Coalition releases an overview of the Gulf Coast Hurricane Housing Recovery Act of 2007
- Exploitation of Asian American Laborers in the Aftermath of Hurricane Katrina
- In the Aftermath of Hurricane Katrina: The Chef Menteur Landfill and Its Effect on the Vietnamese American Community
- Landfill Situation - Support the Vietnamese Community in New Orleans East. Visit the Web site for more information.
- April 26: Congressman Honda, Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr. to Hold New Orleans Town Hall Meetings
- April 21, 2006: AAJC Memo regarding New Orleans Town Hall Meeting.
- April 2-3, 2006: Asian Pacific American Community Education & Legal Clinic - If you need legal assistance, attorneys and law students speaking Vietnamese, Chinese, Tagalog, and Korean will be available to assist.
- AAJC Letter to FEMA: AAJC Letter to FEMA requesting an extension on FEMA & SBA registration application deadline
- Press Release: President's Advisory Commission Announces New Committee Chair and Plans for Gulf Coast Economic Development Mission
- American Red Cross has job postings for their Red Cross Community Partners Program. Visit http://www.redcross.org/ to apply.
- National Civil Rights Groups Call for Unity and Fairness In Rebuilding Effort after Hurricane Katrina
- Katrina and the Asian American Community - A general overview
- Congressional Briefing Announced: “Katrina and the Asian American Community”
- Testimony from Southeast Asia Resource Action Center
- Testimony from Reverend Thich Hang Dat
- "Katrina and the Asian American Community" Congressional Briefing (September 29, 2005) - South Asian American Leaders of Tomorrow
- Statement by Ho Luong Tran, CEO and President Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum
Additional Resources
Resources from NCAPA Members