IRAY NABATOFF
HURRICANE RELIEF WORKER
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By Gretchen Abendschein
Iray Nabatoff is an Acworth resident who has been doing Katrina recovery work in hurricane-ravaged Arabi, Louisiana for the past six years.
Arabi is a small town of about 8,000 residents that is five miles east of New Orleans.
In January 2006 Iray spent eighteen days preparing and serving meals in a volunteer-run food distribution center that was serving up to 1,300 meals a day to displaced residents and recovery workers in Arabi.
After his brief stint in Arabi, Iray returned to Acworth for three weeks but knew he had to go back to Louisiana. "I felt so connected to the people there," Iray explained. The devastation from hurricane Katrina was so enormous and overwhelming that he felt compelled to return to the area and help in whatever way he could.
On his return visit Iray had planned to stay in Arabi for about two months. But his stay continued to lengthen as he became aware of the scope of work involved in helping victims of Katrina. Nearly six years later Iray is still in the community of Arabi helping residents rebuild their homes and their lives.
Shortly after he returned to Arabi, Iray realized that there was an urgent necessity for someone who could connect people in need with others who could help solve their problems or offer services. Iray seemed to have a knack for developing community networking resources.
By mid-April 2006 Iray and a small group of relief workers and residents had formed a board and created a non-profit community outreach organization: The Community Center of St. Bernard.
With support from the Andrew Jackson Masonic Lodge No 428 and through the help of volunteers who cleaned out flood debris and refurbished the building, The Community Center of St. Bernard was able to open its doors on January 31, 2007 at their permanent facility in Old Hickory Hall.
ABOUT HURRICANE KATRINA
From the Community Center of St. Bernard website:
As you know, the hurricane struck on August 29, 2005. As the levees collapsed, flood waters came pouring into every neighborhood in the Parish. Within hours the entire area was under water. In many cases homes and businesses were covered up to the rooftops. One hundred and eighty people in the Parish drowned.
And it only got worse.
Ray Nabatoff
The floodwaters pouring into the local Murphy Oil USA, Inc facility caused the largest domestic oil spill in US history. Oil floated on the water and spread its way into homes, businesses and schools leaving them fouled, smelly and contaminated. And then on September 24, 2005 Hurricane Rita arrived, sending more water spilling over the collapsed levees and flooding St Bernard Parish again.Recovery from this unprecedented destruction will be a slow and painful process. Even 2 years after the storms, mail delivery in St Bernard Parish is only at about 37% of pre-Katrina levels. For comparison, next door in New Orleans mail delivery is already at 67%, while Jefferson Parish is at 98%. Many residents who have remained or returned to St Bernard are staying in FEMA trailers, some without electricity and other basic services. And even these tenous living arrangements are under threat as various deadlines for closing the public trailer sites come into effect at the end of 2007.In short, since that late August day in 2005 the people of St Bernard have had a real and ongoing need for things most people in this country take for granted: laundry facilities, phones, internet access, and accurate information about the recovery plans, procedures and resources that directly affect them.If you’re interested in making a donation, click here: Community Center of St. Bernard