Joplin HOPE Center announces its launch
The Joplin HOPE Center for Disaster Recovery announces its launch in conjunction with the 10th anniversary of the Joplin tornado.
Joplin’s response to and recovery from the devastating EF5 tornado on May 22, 2011, has inspired many. The Center is being established to serve as a comprehensive resource of digitized primary source material when disasters strike other communities. It also will be open to researchers, journalists, and others looking at steps communities can take to be better prepared.
The Center is a partnership created by Missouri Southern State University, the city of Joplin, the Joplin School District, and others.
“From the community and local government perspective, the search for relatable and trusted recovery guidance can be time-consuming and frustrating,” said Jane Cage, co-founder of the Joplin HOPE Center for Disaster Recovery.
“While these groups benefit from federal and state recovery expertise, it is learning the best practices of their peers – other communities and local governments that have managed long-term disaster recovery – that they truly covet. The Joplin Hope Project provides this assistance in a digital format that shortens the recovery learning curve. Specifically, it will provide our battle-tested examples of recovery plans, strategies, grant applications, engagement efforts, and timetables. The Joplin Hope Project is our opportunity to pay it forward.”
Dr. Kerry Sachetta, assistant superintendent of operations with the Joplin School District, said: “The Joplin HOPE Center for Disaster Recovery is an opportunity for Joplin Schools to memorialize the effort directly afterward, planning for the future, and rebuilding our schools after the devastating 2011 tornado. By collecting and cataloging school district documents, pictures, stories, and lessons learned, we can preserve our efforts to honor the victims, meet the challenge and share our experience with school districts and researchers for generations to come.”
The Center is welcoming local participation in two areas: Collecting materials that should be included and accepting financial assistance to underwrite the development of the database and website.
You can learn more at http://www.joplindisastercenter.com