Louisiana Flood Resources on NYFA Source and Beyond

Information to Aid in Recovery for Louisiana Artists and A Reminder for Artists Everywhere

Louisiana artists are no strangers to the need for emergency preparedness. As we’ve written previously, protecting yourself, your home, and your work from unexpected disasters can help you avoid disaster-related setbacks. From safekeeping your records to selecting the business insurance that meets your needs, this summer’s floods in West Virginia and Louisiana have certainly served as a reminder of just how important it is to prepare yourself for the unexpected. In East Baton Rouge, for example, many of the homes that flooded were not in high-risk flood zones, meaning numerous homeowners were without flood insurance.

Keep Checking Back for Resources & Send Support

As the recovery process continues, we’ll add more resources to NYFA Source, our online database of arts opportunities and services, so be sure to check back. If consistent access to a computer and our online resources is not available, you can call the NYFA Source Hotline at (800) 232-2789, from Monday – Friday, 3 – 5 PM EST.

Want to help with the recovery? There are plenty of ways to donate funds or your time. As you decide where and how to donate, keep in mind that it can be just as effective, if not more so, to donate to an organization’s general operating support instead of specific disaster relief programs (learn more by reading 8 Tips for Being a Good Donor.)

Art Service Organizations in Louisiana

Local arts service organizations are galvanizing to help artists and local communities in parishes affected by the flood:

• The Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge is offering aid—including venue cleanup and salvage work—to artists and arts organizations impacted in East Baton Rouge, West Baton Rouge, Ascension, Livingston, Tangipahoa, Washington, Iberville, Pointe Coupee, West Feliciana, East Feliciana, and St. Helena parishes. Find out about their Creative Relief Fund, which will provide financial assistance through grants to artists.

• If you live in the greater Lafayette area, you can reach out to the Acadiana Center for the Arts. Contact Community Development Director Gwen Richard at (337) 233-7060 or [email protected] for information.

• Justine Bird, Assistant Director, Artist Resources at the Arts Council of New Orleans, can be contacted for information on flood resources for artists at [email protected].

Select Emergency Resources from NYFA Source

Disaster recovery can involve everything from avoiding health hazards to preventing and repairing mold damage. Here are some resources from NYFA Source to help you tackle the various challenges you may be facing:

Arts & Culture Specific Resources

• Actors Fund of America Emergency Grants: For all performing artists. Learn about eligibility guidelines here and call (800) 221-7303 or email Dale Daley at [email protected] with questions.
• Jazz Foundation of America Jazz Musicians Emergency Fund: Learn about housing and emergency assistance here.
• MusiCares Louisiana Flood Relief: To apply for assistance for musicians, contact the South Regional Office at (615) 327-0050 or toll-free (877) 626-2748. Learn more here.
• Joan Mitchell Foundation Emergency Grant: Emergency support to artists working in the mediums of painting, sculpture, and/or drawing after natural or manmade disasters.
• CERF+ Response to Louisiana Flooding: This page is dedicated to Louisiana Flood recovery information, including information on legal issues, emergency relief agencies, and salvaging your artwork.

General Disaster Resources

• Red Cross Louisiana Capital-West Chapter: find locations and contact information here.
• Louisiana Shelter at Home Program: enables eligible individuals or families whose homes were damaged to take shelter in their own homes while they rebuild, instead of having to stay in a hotel, rental, or mass shelter.
• Mental Health Support: Cigna Behavioral Health Employee Assistance Program is offering free telephone consultations with licensed clinicians until September 16, 2016. For individuals who may not have access to the Internet, or who could benefit from talking with a qualified clinician regarding the stress of this tragedy, qualified clinicians are available for non-Cigna customers at 866-912-1687, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• Shelters: Find shelters in flood-affected parishes here.
• Office of Governor John Bel Edwards: Find information on housing help, FEMA assistance, and more here or on Twitter or Facebook.
• Free home cleanup from the Louisiana National Guard: Call 1-800-451-1954 to register.
• Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (DSNAP): provides eligible households who do not currently receive SNAP benefits with help buying groceries due to lost income or damages following a disaster.
• Legal Assistance: The Southern University Law Center launched the Disaster Recovery Law Clinic on campus for residents financially impacted by flooding. Residents can receive help registering with FEMA and other governmental aid groups as well as receive counseling on legal rights.

For more emergency resources, visit: http://source.nyfa.org/content/content/disasterresources/disasterresources.aspx

– Mirielle Clifford, Program Associate, Online Resources

Images, from top: Matt Bollinger (Fellow in Painting ‘15), detail from Renovations: A Novel, 2014; Frank Webster (Fellow in Painting ‘15), detail from Rockaway Dawn, 2015