THE CONTRAFLOW PROJECT

Projects

September 2nd, 2010

RESEARCH: THE CONTRAFLOW COLLECTION

Over the past four years the Contraflow Research Project amassed tens of thousands of paper files, electronic files and images; which include After Action Reports, photos, DVDs, audio interviews, testimonies, responder journals, newspaper articles, etc. Our goal is to transcribe, scan and categorize every piece of research material, and identify a permanent electronic and physical home where the public can access our work.

FINDINGS/MANUSCRIPT DEVELOPMENT

Over the past four years the Contraflow Research Project amassed enough knowledge for at least three books: CONTRAFLOW, documenting the first two weeks of Katrina; WATER LINES, documenting the Repopulation Era of New Orleans between November 2005 – May 2006; SINCE RECONSTRUCTION, documenting life in Greater New Orleans from the first anniversary of Hurricane Katrina (8.29.06) to the aftermath of Hurricane Gustav (9.1.08).

DOCUMENTARY PRODUCTIONS

Over the past four years the Contraflow Research Project amassed over 13,000 minutes of footage. Forty percent has been cataloged. Our goal is to get the remaining 60% cataloged. We have two major documentary projects in the works; one pertaining to the Katrina Responders and the other to the people of the New Orleans 7^th Ward. With so much footage, we plan to begin licensing sometime in the near future.

EDUCATIONAL CAMPAIGN

We feel it important to get our findings out not only to the public, but the educational community as well. We plan to develop curriculum around the subject of Hurricane Katrina to be used in secondary and post-secondary education. We also want to take our research findings on the road giving lectures at college campuses, corporate events and emergency management seminars.

RESPONDER APPRECIATION DAY

In our opinion, when referring to Hurricane Katrina, the word “responder” pertains to people and agencies from the block, neighborhood, local, metro, state, regional, national, military, corporate, international arenas. We believe there should be a day of appreciation, honoring all Katrina responders. I plan to champion this overdue recognition.

FUNDS

Our goal is to establish three Katrina-related funds and support one Haitian relief fund:

• Mathieu Family Reconstruction Fund
Four years after Katrina and the two primary sources of the inspiration for this project, Rick and Manny Mathieu, are still living in substandard housing. The three homes amongst the two of them are still not rebuilt.
• Stood for the Storm Fund
There were about a dozen or so Katrina survivors who shared their experiences with us; most of them still not back home.
• Katrina Responders Fund
There are many Katrina responders, especially from the federal level, who are still suffering from the trauma that came from what they experienced in Greater New Orleans during the first few weeks of Katrina.
• New Haiti Project Earthquake Relief Fund
This fund is targeted towards the relief and reconstruction efforts in the Canape-vert suburb of Port-au-Prince, Haiti; where the College Canape-vert is located (once).