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Welcome to PAD FlyAway
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Six Months After Katrina: The Uninsured Rely on Volunteers to Rebuild and Recover VIEW ARTICLE & LISTEN TO PODCAST INTERVIEW HERE By Stephen J. Savva, Esq. New York, NY - April 10, 2006 -- On Saturday April 1, 2006, the NYC Alumni Chapter of Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity, International ("PAD") and Operation Helping Hands of New Orleans teamed up to clean and gut a home located in one of the areas hardest hit by Hurricane Katrina. More than 40 volunteers generously devoted their time, money and labor to give back to a community still very much in need. The event, called the PAD FlyAway, is usually organized as a fun weekend trip to locations such as New York City, Las Vegas, Puerto Rico or St. Kitts. However, this year, attorney Stephen J. Savva, the Justice (President) of the NYC Alumni Chapter and other PAD leaders decided that bringing a group of volunteers to New Orleans was more important. After partnering with Catholic Charities USA, who runs Operation Helping Hands in New Orleans, the PAD FlyAway Group was assigned to clear debris, recover personal belongings and gut a two-family home located at 1316-18 Reynes Street in the Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans. The FlyAway team was comprised of more than 40 attorneys and students traveling from California, Florida, New York, New Jersey and within Louisiana. Upon arriving at the assigned location, the FlyAway team witnessed first-hand the complete devastation in this area. Written in orange spray paint on a home across the street were the words "1 DOG DEAD" and "FL1" -- indicating that one person was found alive in the home. On the front lawn of 1316-18 Reynes Street, is an overturned SUV apparently left behind by the receding flood waters from the breached levees. The conditions discovered inside 1316-18 Reynes Street were nothing short of heart-wrenching. The FlyAway team realized that this was not just a house, it was a home. Armed with masks and gloves, the FlyAway team removed tons of debris, clothing, furniture and appliances one piece at a time with respect and care. Although the vast majority of the items found in 1316-18 Reynes Street were unsalvageable, the foundation of the home remained strong. The FlyAway team carefully sifted through the debris to recover personal belongings such as jewelry, photographs, statues and a handful of other items for the homeowner. Upon completing work, the FlyAway group was informed that the home was owned by Mrs. Rose Migliore, an elderly woman afflicted with Polio who had no insurance. Unfortunately, too many residents on Reynes Street had no insurance. Although many months have passed since Katrina passed over the Ninth Ward, Reynes Street remains mostly vacant, with no running water or electricity and little evidence of any construction. The only noticeable traffic is a Red Cross truck providing food and water to volunteers and homeowners working in the area. While returning to the Le Pavillion Hotel near the French Quarter, the host hotel for all out-of-state FlyAway volunteers, members of the team had an opportunity to speak with Mrs. Migliore on the telephone. Mrs. Migliore was most gracious and appreciative of the fact that someone cared enough to travel to New Orleans to help her. She then informed the team that her home had been built by her husband and brother-in-law several decades ago. The FlyAway group was witness to fine workmanship of these men, as underneath the debris and warped flooring were perfectly straight wood planks secured firmly to the foundation with antique square head nails. The graciousness and joy in Mrs. Migliore's voice was irrefutable evidence to all involved that New Orleans was the perfect location for the 2006 PAD FlyAway. On Sunday April 2, 2006, Mr. Savva and PAD Alumnus Carmen McCormick, Esq., General Counsel for Quality Built -- a sponsor who donated hard-hats for the FlyAway team -- met briefly with New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin at the Le Pavilion Hotel to provide him with information about the efforts of the PAD FlyAway team. Mr. Savva requested that the Mayor's office send a letter of encouragement that could be shared with Mrs. Migliore and the FlyAway team. Mayor Nagin was most gracious in telling Mr. Savva and Ms. McCormick that he would take care of it and accomodate their request. For many uninsured homeowners in New Orleans and other cities dealing with natural disasters, programs administered by PAD's NYC Alumni Chapter, Catholic Charities, the Red Cross and other national relief organizations are the only means for some residents to recover their personal belongings and begin the process of rebuilding. For those who have not personally witnessed the conditions created by Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, they continue to be far more extensive than what is generally known or reported. Scores of cars remain overturned, miles of homes are left as piles of debris and food continues to decay in water-logged refrigerators scattered throughout the area. PAD's NYC Alumni Chapter is proud to have traveled to New Orleans in furtherance of the Fraternity's mission of "Service to the Student, the Profession and the Community." As the 2006 hurricane season rapidly approaches, we must all remember that this is a national tragedy that can and probably will happen again. Until and unless we prevent natural disasters, which does not appear likely, the road to recovery continues to be just one home at a time. The complete list of volunteers and sponsors that made the 2006 PAD FlyAway possible are: Corbin Adams; Christopher Bordenave; Jessica Boyd; Marilyn Callwood; Brittney Clark; James Erwin; Shari Erwin; Aliciamarie Falcetta; Leon Feingold; Cassie Ford; Giselle Gaviria; Erica Gibson; Channing Guidry; Arnold Hirsch; Marguerite Holmes; Chelsea Howard; Angela Howard; Kristi Kligerman; Janise Lampley; Iriane Lee; Annice Littlejohn; Nova Southeastern University; Samantha Maitland; Carmen McCormick; Erin McKenna; Tiffany Morris; JohnPaul Ogbuokiri; Dru Pardo; Randall Poerschke; Daria Pratcher; Quality BuiltŪ; Kimberly Rescola; Trevor Rescola; Kasey Robinson; Monique Sawyer; Stephen J. Savva; Amanda Sidari; Emerald Skipper; Rodney Sparrow; Bryan Stephany; Dawn Sullivan; Sharee Tucker; and Nicole Washington. The NYC Alumni Chapter sincerely appreciates the support and efforts of the courageous volunteers who traveled to New Orleans.
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2006 FlyAway Volunteer in Front of 1316-18 Reynes St.
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View more compelling photographs of the damage caused by Hurricane Katrina taken by the FlyAway Team while in New Orleans in April 2006 VIEW PHOTO ALBUM HERE If you are a PAD member and interested in more information about the PAD FlyAway Program and/or participating in a future event, please join our Free Yahoo Groups Listserv by sending an e-mail to: 2006FlyAway-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
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