Research
Southern Mutual Help Association
http://www.southernmutualhelp.orgAction Research Project
In December, 2005 and January 2006, C-PREP conducted research on behalf of the Southern Mutual Help Association (SMHA) in support of rebuilding food systems as part of the Rural Recovery Response to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in Southern Louisiana. On August 28, 2005, Hurricane Katrina struck the eastern parishes of Louisiana. On September 24, 2005, Hurricane Rita struck the western parishes of Louisiana. These two powerful storms did extensive damage to Louisiana agriculture, fisheries and food systems. The purpose of this report is to address the impact of the hurricanes on food systems in Southern Louisiana. The Southern Mutual Help Association (SMHA) immediately organized damage assessment and response planning after Katrina’s landfall and established the Rural Recovery Response. Katrina devastated dairy, timber, cattle, vegetable crops, sugarcane and the fishing industry, especially in St. Bernard and Plaquemines Parishes. Before any chance for significant recovery, Rita devastated cattle, sugarcane, rice and fisheries from Texas to St. Bernard Parish. To guide the initial efforts of the Rural Recovery Response SMHA contracted with C-PREP to gather information losses to food system infrastructure, such as packing sheds, processing facilities, warehouses, trucks, refrigeration, and retail stores in the weeks following the storms. C-PREP prepared a report widely distributed to funders and others involved with recovery efforts.
The final report can be seen here. (PDF 535.29 Kb)
