For many people across Southeast Louisiana, the word resilience can feel more like a burden than an aspiration. It’s become shorthand for rebuilding after yet another hurricane, flood, or disaster, often without the resources or support communities deserve.
We understand that frustration.
At United Way, we believe resilience shouldn’t mean simply surviving hardship. It should mean having the knowledge, resources, and partnerships to prepare before disaster strikes, so families have more choices, greater stability, and a stronger path forward.
That’s the vision behind the United Way of Southeast Louisiana Resiliency Center – founded by Rebuilding Together New Orleans, a permanent, storm-hardened community hub dedicated to disaster preparedness, response, and recovery. The center brings together trusted nonprofit partners to help residents strengthen their households, navigate challenges, and access support before, during, and after disasters.
We helped create the Resiliency Center from lessons learned over decades of responding to hurricanes, floods, and other emergencies across our region. Rather than waiting until disaster strikes, the center focuses on year-round preparedness through workshops, financial readiness resources, volunteer engagement, community education, and access to mental health resources that support emotional well-being and long-term resilience. During emergencies, it transforms into an operations hub for supply distribution, volunteer coordination, and recovery support. The goal is to shift the conversation from recovery to readiness and ensure families have the tools and support they need to thrive before a disaster occurs.
Recently, community members gathered at the center for the resiliency resource fair and disaster preparedness workshop, an event designed to equip residents with practical information, local resources, and preparedness tools.
Participants connected with trusted community partners, learned strategies for protecting their families and homes, and gained valuable guidance on emergency planning. The workshop focused on topics that can make a critical difference when disaster strikes, including:
- Building an emergency preparedness kit
- Creating a family communication plan
- Understanding disaster recovery resources
- Financial preparedness and protecting important documents
- Navigating assistance programs after a disaster
Attendees left with practical tools they can use today and a better understanding of how to navigate challenges tomorrow.
Disaster preparedness is not a one-time conversation. That’s why United Way of Southeast Louisiana continues to offer free workshops throughout the year.
Upcoming Disaster Preparedness Workshops include:
Thursday, August 6 | Noon – 1 p.m.
J. Wayne Leonard Prosperity Center
2401 Canal St., New Orleans, LA 70119
Friday, August 7 | Noon – 1 p.m.
Resiliency Center
2831 St. Claude Ave., New Orleans, LA 70117
Learn more: https://www.unitedwaysela.org/resiliency-center/
Thank you to Verizon for their continued support.
Together, we can help our community prepare – before, during, and after a disaster.
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