53. ABA RESPONDS TO HURRICANE KATRINA
In September 2005, two days after Hurricane Katrina, the ABA Task Force on Hurricane Katrina was established to coordinate and lead the Association’s work to mobilize its membership to assist in the relief effort. “The legal profession has a critically important role to play in helping the people of the Gulf Coast rebuild their lives, their economies, and their communities,” then-President Michael Greco said. “Our services are needed to help victims deal with every conceivable legal need, from mortgage foreclosures and estate administration to insurance claims and reconstruction of buildings and important documents. We are also called upon to help courts, bar associations, legal aid organizations, and our fellow lawyers rebuild a functioning justice system.”
The Task Force, which represented a broad base of ABA sections, bar associations, legal services and constituent groups, created a Disaster Relief Web site, which contained critical information about ABA Young Lawyers Division efforts with FEMA, where to donate money, volunteer lawyer pro bono opportunities, and the appropriate hotline numbers for victims. Soon an interactive, Web-based registration form was developed for lawyers who wanted to volunteer legal services to victims, which work was coordinated by the ABA Center for Pro Bono.
The Task Force also worked to assist members and other lawyers affected by the Hurricane. It served as a clearinghouse for lawyers in other locales who had office space available for displaced lawyers, an area where relocated lawyers could post their new locations, and pulled together topical information in such areas as licensing, bar association efforts, court information, health law, insurance coverage, law practice management, real property and technology, and opened a job board. The Board of Governors also approved a dues waiver program for lawyers affected by the storm, to be sure those in need would still be able to access the association's resources and assistance.
In June 2006 the Board of Governors approved the creation of the ABA Special Committee on Disaster Response and Preparedness to continue the efforts of the Task Force and address long-term issues regarding disaster response.
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