I was immediately intrigued by Al because here was a man who did not have
because here was a man who did not have
because here was a man who did not have a glamorous job yet he had an incredibly
a glamorous job yet he had an incredibly
a glamorous job yet he had an incredibly positive attitude al worked day in day
positive attitude al worked day in day
positive attitude al worked day in day out every single day in inclement
out every single day in inclement
out every single day in inclement weather and temperatures that often
weather and temperatures that often
weather and temperatures that often exceeded 100 degrees with a positive
exceeded 100 degrees with a positive
exceeded 100 degrees with a positive attitude always encouraging his
attitude always encouraging his
attitude always encouraging his teammates
teammates
teammates I knew Al had a story to tell so one day
I knew Al had a story to tell so one day
I knew Al had a story to tell so one day I asked him al what happened and he
I asked him al what happened and he
I asked him al what happened and he looked at me and he chuckled and he said
looked at me and he chuckled and he said
looked at me and he chuckled and he said she took everything she took my house
she took everything she took my house
she took everything she took my house she took my car she wiped out my savings
she took my car she wiped out my savings
she took my car she wiped out my savings she even took my job I couldn’t believe
she even took my job I couldn’t believe
she even took my job I couldn’t believe what I was hearing because after the
what I was hearing because after the
what I was hearing because after the positive attitude I sing I would it did
positive attitude I sing I would it did
positive attitude I sing I would it did not match the story he had just told me
not match the story he had just told me
not match the story he had just told me I had to find out the rest of our story
I had to find out the rest of our story
I had to find out the rest of our story so I asked him to tell me how he began
so I asked him to tell me how he began
so I asked him to tell me how he began to put the pieces of his life back
to put the pieces of his life back
to put the pieces of his life back together he smiled and he looked up and
together he smiled and he looked up and
together he smiled and he looked up and he said Ana one day I looked up and I
he said Ana one day I looked up and I
he said Ana one day I looked up and I saw hope did you look outside today did
saw hope did you look outside today did
saw hope did you look outside today did you look outside yesterday did you take
you look outside yesterday did you take
you look outside yesterday did you take a moment to appreciate the beautiful
a moment to appreciate the beautiful
a moment to appreciate the beautiful Carolina blue sky that was above us if
Carolina blue sky that was above us if
Carolina blue sky that was above us if so how did it make you feel did you feel
so how did it make you feel did you feel
so how did it make you feel did you feel a sense of hope
a sense of hope
a sense of hope what about opportunity did you look
what about opportunity did you look
what about opportunity did you look through your windshield and think about
through your windshield and think about
through your windshield and think about the possibilities that might be after a
the possibilities that might be after a
the possibilities that might be after a natural disaster there is what experts
natural disaster there is what experts
natural disaster there is what experts refer to as the blue sky period of a
refer to as the blue sky period of a
refer to as the blue sky period of a recovery phase during this phase of
recovery phase during this phase of
recovery phase during this phase of recovery mindsets move from surviving
recovery mindsets move from surviving
recovery mindsets move from surviving the natural disaster to capitalizing on
the natural disaster to capitalizing on
the natural disaster to capitalizing on the opportunities created because of the
the opportunities created because of the
the opportunities created because of the disaster it is during this period where
disaster it is during this period where
disaster it is during this period where leaders must move their communities
leaders must move their communities
leaders must move their communities towards a safer stronger more resilient
towards a safer stronger more resilient
towards a safer stronger more resilient future it is during this period of time
future it is during this period of time
future it is during this period of time where strategic government and private
where strategic government and private
where strategic government and private partnerships are formed to best leverage
partnerships are formed to best leverage
partnerships are formed to best leverage a community’s resources it is during
a community’s resources it is during
a community’s resources it is during this time where neighbors find out where
this time where neighbors find out where
this time where neighbors find out where people find out who their neighbors
people find out who their neighbors
people find out who their neighbors truly are of course after a natural
truly are of course after a natural
truly are of course after a natural disaster
disaster
disaster communities could wither away as the
communities could wither away as the
communities could wither away as the weight of the event tears the fabric of
weight of the event tears the fabric of
weight of the event tears the fabric of their very lives but this is not how
their very lives but this is not how
their very lives but this is not how most communities choose to respond
most communities choose to respond
most communities choose to respond communities lives are shattered but it
communities lives are shattered but it
communities lives are shattered but it is precisely this shattering that
is precisely this shattering that
is precisely this shattering that creates these new and innovative ways of
creates these new and innovative ways of
creates these new and innovative ways of thinking and gives them room to grow
thinking and gives them room to grow
thinking and gives them room to grow after Hurricane Katrina Ricci Matthews
after Hurricane Katrina Ricci Matthews
after Hurricane Katrina Ricci Matthews was quoted as saying that the storm
was quoted as saying that the storm
was quoted as saying that the storm brought about a realization the
brought about a realization the
brought about a realization the building’s don’t make a community people
building’s don’t make a community people
building’s don’t make a community people do and houses don’t make home hearts do
do and houses don’t make home hearts do
do and houses don’t make home hearts do it is precisely this type of realization
it is precisely this type of realization
it is precisely this type of realization that occur frequently during the blue
that occur frequently during the blue
that occur frequently during the blue sky phase after a natural disaster now
sky phase after a natural disaster now
sky phase after a natural disaster now while we pause today for a few moments
while we pause today for a few moments
while we pause today for a few moments to think about a different perspective
to think about a different perspective
to think about a different perspective associated with natural disasters we do
associated with natural disasters we do
associated with natural disasters we do not for a moment lose sight of the
not for a moment lose sight of the
not for a moment lose sight of the ongoing human suffering that has
ongoing human suffering that has
ongoing human suffering that has occurred in our world over the last few
occurred in our world over the last few
occurred in our world over the last few weeks as we’ve been impacted time and
weeks as we’ve been impacted time and
weeks as we’ve been impacted time and time again by natural disasters rather
time again by natural disasters rather
time again by natural disasters rather we pause for a few moments intentionally
we pause for a few moments intentionally
we pause for a few moments intentionally today so that we might awaken ourselves
today so that we might awaken ourselves
today so that we might awaken ourselves and be ready to move when within our own
and be ready to move when within our own
and be ready to move when within our own spheres of influences we can make a
spheres of influences we can make a
spheres of influences we can make a difference Katrina a lovely female an
difference Katrina a lovely female an
difference Katrina a lovely female an intriguing name but when Katrina struck
intriguing name but when Katrina struck
intriguing name but when Katrina struck the Gulf Coast in 2005 she was anything
the Gulf Coast in 2005 she was anything
the Gulf Coast in 2005 she was anything but lovely she left behind in her wake
but lovely she left behind in her wake
but lovely she left behind in her wake more than 125 billion dollars worth of
more than 125 billion dollars worth of
more than 125 billion dollars worth of damage almost 2,000 precious lives were
damage almost 2,000 precious lives were
damage almost 2,000 precious lives were lost and overnight the unemployment rate
lost and overnight the unemployment rate
lost and overnight the unemployment rate in this state effectively doubled Harvey
in this state effectively doubled Harvey
in this state effectively doubled Harvey Irma
Irma
Irma Harvey shocked the Texas Gulf Coast as
Harvey shocked the Texas Gulf Coast as
Harvey shocked the Texas Gulf Coast as it went from a tropical storm to a
it went from a tropical storm to a
it went from a tropical storm to a category 4 hurricane in just two days
category 4 hurricane in just two days
category 4 hurricane in just two days the worst hurricane Texas has seen in
the worst hurricane Texas has seen in
the worst hurricane Texas has seen in more than 50 years hurricane Irma
more than 50 years hurricane Irma
more than 50 years hurricane Irma decimated the beautiful state of Florida
decimated the beautiful state of Florida
decimated the beautiful state of Florida destroying more than 90 percent of the
destroying more than 90 percent of the
destroying more than 90 percent of the housing stock in the Florida Keys but
housing stock in the Florida Keys but
housing stock in the Florida Keys but these statistics and calculations do
these statistics and calculations do
these statistics and calculations do very little to accurately convey what
very little to accurately convey what
very little to accurately convey what our neighbors experienced in the weeks
our neighbors experienced in the weeks
our neighbors experienced in the weeks months and years after a natural
months and years after a natural
months and years after a natural disaster
disaster
disaster our neighbors awaken to a world which
our neighbors awaken to a world which
our neighbors awaken to a world which was previously unthinkable but now has
was previously unthinkable but now has
was previously unthinkable but now has become their undeniable reality experts
become their undeniable reality experts
become their undeniable reality experts estimate that it will cut cost more than
estimate that it will cut cost more than
estimate that it will cut cost more than 290 billion dollars in decades to
290 billion dollars in decades to
290 billion dollars in decades to recover from these two storms alone how
recover from these two storms alone how
recover from these two storms alone how will they do it how will these
will they do it how will these
will they do it how will these communities rebound these communities
communities rebound these communities
communities rebound these communities recovery will best be defined as a
recovery will best be defined as a
recovery will best be defined as a series of concurrent activities and
series of concurrent activities and
series of concurrent activities and interdependent events that will
interdependent events that will
interdependent events that will propelled these communities towards
propelled these communities towards
propelled these communities towards their future but the decisions made and
their future but the decisions made and
their future but the decisions made and the priorities set early on in these
the priorities set early on in these
the priorities set early on in these recovery periods will have a cascading
recovery periods will have a cascading
recovery periods will have a cascading impact on the success of these recovery
impact on the success of these recovery
impact on the success of these recovery programs these communities must move
programs these communities must move
programs these communities must move forward both to rebound to its physical
forward both to rebound to its physical
forward both to rebound to its physical and economic state of well-being but
and economic state of well-being but
and economic state of well-being but also to prepare for the future
also to prepare for the future
also to prepare for the future they must rebuild in safer stronger and
they must rebuild in safer stronger and
they must rebuild in safer stronger and smarter ways to best position themselves
smarter ways to best position themselves
smarter ways to best position themselves for the future disaster resilience has
for the future disaster resilience has
for the future disaster resilience has become a matter of federal policy
become a matter of federal policy
become a matter of federal policy because these communities call upon our
because these communities call upon our
because these communities call upon our federal government in times of need so
federal government in times of need so
federal government in times of need so federal programs administered by FEMA
federal programs administered by FEMA
federal programs administered by FEMA HUD the Small Business Administration
HUD the Small Business Administration
HUD the Small Business Administration and the Department of Health and Human
and the Department of Health and Human
and the Department of Health and Human Services have turned from helping a
Services have turned from helping a
Services have turned from helping a community restore itself and recover to
community restore itself and recover to
community restore itself and recover to focusing on a more resilient path
focusing on a more resilient path
focusing on a more resilient path forward one such example is the state of
forward one such example is the state of
forward one such example is the state of Florida now while Florida suffered
Florida now while Florida suffered
Florida now while Florida suffered tremendous devastation from omma
tremendous devastation from omma
tremendous devastation from omma experts have already estimated that the
experts have already estimated that the
experts have already estimated that the damage could have been much worse
damage could have been much worse
damage could have been much worse but Florida focused on the over the last
but Florida focused on the over the last
but Florida focused on the over the last decade on strengthening its building
decade on strengthening its building
decade on strengthening its building codes forcing its engineers to have a
codes forcing its engineers to have a
codes forcing its engineers to have a focus on resiliency construction
focus on resiliency construction
focus on resiliency construction requiring construction materials to be
requiring construction materials to be
requiring construction materials to be stronger and safer in preparation for
stronger and safer in preparation for
stronger and safer in preparation for future threats
future threats
future threats thus the damage left by Armagh in Tampa
thus the damage left by Armagh in Tampa
thus the damage left by Armagh in Tampa and Naples was less significant than
and Naples was less significant than
and Naples was less significant than possibly it could have been another such
possibly it could have been another such
possibly it could have been another such example is the city of Galveston
in 2008 Hurricane Ike devastated the
in 2008 Hurricane Ike devastated the city of Galveston
city of Galveston
city of Galveston these two homes that you see behind me
these two homes that you see behind me
these two homes that you see behind me while the exterior damage doesn’t look
while the exterior damage doesn’t look
while the exterior damage doesn’t look that bad they both were completely
that bad they both were completely
that bad they both were completely flooded these families lost absolutely
flooded these families lost absolutely
flooded these families lost absolutely everything
everything
everything so in faced with the decision of whether
so in faced with the decision of whether
so in faced with the decision of whether or not to rebuild the community leaders
or not to rebuild the community leaders
or not to rebuild the community leaders pause for a moment during the blue sky
pause for a moment during the blue sky
pause for a moment during the blue sky period and decided to rebuild in a
period and decided to rebuild in a
period and decided to rebuild in a different way for these two families
different way for these two families
different way for these two families they rebuilt homes with a more
they rebuilt homes with a more
they rebuilt homes with a more sustainable future they elevated these
sustainable future they elevated these
sustainable future they elevated these homes they required resiliency
homes they required resiliency
homes they required resiliency engineering and stronger materials to be
engineering and stronger materials to be
engineering and stronger materials to be used for these homes last month this
used for these homes last month this
used for these homes last month this beautiful community found itself once
beautiful community found itself once
beautiful community found itself once again in the crosshairs of Hurricane
again in the crosshairs of Hurricane
again in the crosshairs of Hurricane Harvey would the motivations with the
Harvey would the motivations with the
Harvey would the motivations with the intentions would the goals of the City
intentions would the goals of the City
intentions would the goals of the City of Galveston work when faced with a
of Galveston work when faced with a
of Galveston work when faced with a threat such as Harvey it worked during
threat such as Harvey it worked during
threat such as Harvey it worked during the blue sky period after Hurricane Ike
the blue sky period after Hurricane Ike
the blue sky period after Hurricane Ike yielded resilience for these homes and
yielded resilience for these homes and
yielded resilience for these homes and these families while they evacuated for
these families while they evacuated for
these families while they evacuated for Harvey they returned to their houses
Harvey they returned to their houses
Harvey they returned to their houses their personal belongings and their
their personal belongings and their
their personal belongings and their lives still intact once the housing
lives still intact once the housing
lives still intact once the housing sector is restored after a disaster then
sector is restored after a disaster then
sector is restored after a disaster then the leaders must focus on the local
the leaders must focus on the local
the leaders must focus on the local economy we all know that the economic
economy we all know that the economic
economy we all know that the economic devastation is not covered as much as
devastation is not covered as much as
devastation is not covered as much as the housing loss and infrastructure
the housing loss and infrastructure
the housing loss and infrastructure damage after a natural disaster but the
damage after a natural disaster but the
damage after a natural disaster but the economic devastation is real and often
economic devastation is real and often
economic devastation is real and often felt for the longest time after a
felt for the longest time after a
felt for the longest time after a natural disaster the tax base is heavily
natural disaster the tax base is heavily
natural disaster the tax base is heavily infected cells revenue declines jobs are
infected cells revenue declines jobs are
infected cells revenue declines jobs are lost wages decline and experts estimate
lost wages decline and experts estimate
lost wages decline and experts estimate that between 50 and 40 15 and 40 percent
that between 50 and 40 15 and 40 percent
that between 50 and 40 15 and 40 percent of the businesses impacted by a natural
of the businesses impacted by a natural
of the businesses impacted by a natural disaster never reopen they simply cannot
disaster never reopen they simply cannot
disaster never reopen they simply cannot bring back their business that was once
bring back their business that was once
bring back their business that was once there so leaders are forced to think in
there so leaders are forced to think in
there so leaders are forced to think in new ways they are forced to look at
new ways they are forced to look at
new ways they are forced to look at their community’s economy and evaluate
their community’s economy and evaluate
their community’s economy and evaluate whether or not it should should be
whether or not it should should be
whether or not it should should be brought back to the way it was or should
brought back to the way it was or should
brought back to the way it was or should they train their workforce in new ways
they train their workforce in new ways
they train their workforce in new ways should they develop new skills should
should they develop new skills should
should they develop new skills should they focus too
they focus too
they focus too new partnerships better preparing their
new partnerships better preparing their
new partnerships better preparing their community for their new reality one such
community for their new reality one such
community for their new reality one such example is the development of broadband
example is the development of broadband
example is the development of broadband infrastructure through disaster recovery
infrastructure through disaster recovery
infrastructure through disaster recovery programs we all are aware that disasters
programs we all are aware that disasters
programs we all are aware that disasters often hit the most impoverished in rural
often hit the most impoverished in rural
often hit the most impoverished in rural areas it’s a cruel fact in disaster
areas it’s a cruel fact in disaster
areas it’s a cruel fact in disaster recovery and now because of disaster
recovery and now because of disaster
recovery and now because of disaster recovery programs the federal government
recovery programs the federal government
recovery programs the federal government is encouraging the installation of
is encouraging the installation of
is encouraging the installation of broadband infrastructure within these
broadband infrastructure within these
broadband infrastructure within these communities narrowing the digital divide
communities narrowing the digital divide
communities narrowing the digital divide creating a new world of opportunity for
creating a new world of opportunity for
creating a new world of opportunity for these communities which was previously
these communities which was previously
these communities which was previously unthinkable now their access to new
unthinkable now their access to new
unthinkable now their access to new online courses job training and new jobs
online courses job training and new jobs
online courses job training and new jobs are readily available within their own
are readily available within their own
are readily available within their own homes now they have access to the world
homes now they have access to the world
homes now they have access to the world which pre-disaster they could not even
which pre-disaster they could not even
which pre-disaster they could not even fathom in one state a disaster recovery
fathom in one state a disaster recovery
fathom in one state a disaster recovery program invested millions of dollars in
program invested millions of dollars in
program invested millions of dollars in the state’s medical and nursing school
the state’s medical and nursing school
the state’s medical and nursing school not only did this state capitalize on
not only did this state capitalize on
not only did this state capitalize on increased applications and availability
increased applications and availability
increased applications and availability for medical professionals it also
for medical professionals it also
for medical professionals it also created state-of-the-art technology and
created state-of-the-art technology and
created state-of-the-art technology and facilities this investment not only
facilities this investment not only
facilities this investment not only rebuilt this medical school and this
rebuilt this medical school and this
rebuilt this medical school and this nursing school it created a new future
nursing school it created a new future
nursing school it created a new future for medical professionals within this
for medical professionals within this
for medical professionals within this state another example is the workforce
state another example is the workforce
state another example is the workforce development programs often formed and
development programs often formed and
development programs often formed and developed in disaster impacted States
developed in disaster impacted States
developed in disaster impacted States one state took millions of dollars
one state took millions of dollars
one state took millions of dollars trained 12,000 individuals and out of
trained 12,000 individuals and out of
trained 12,000 individuals and out of that Workforce Development Program place
that Workforce Development Program place
that Workforce Development Program place seven thousand three hundred and
seven thousand three hundred and
seven thousand three hundred and twenty-five individuals in new permanent
twenty-five individuals in new permanent
twenty-five individuals in new permanent jobs and these jobs were critical to the
jobs and these jobs were critical to the
jobs and these jobs were critical to the restoration of that state jobs within
restoration of that state jobs within
restoration of that state jobs within the healthcare sector construction
the healthcare sector construction
the healthcare sector construction sector and advanced manufacturing
sector and advanced manufacturing
sector and advanced manufacturing life-changing moments you remember me
life-changing moments you remember me
life-changing moments you remember me telling you about my friend al al was
telling you about my friend al al was
telling you about my friend al al was one of these individuals you see al was
one of these individuals you see al was
one of these individuals you see al was right Hurricane Katrina did take
right Hurricane Katrina did take
right Hurricane Katrina did take everything she took his home she took
everything she took his home she took
everything she took his home she took his car
his car
his car she wiped out his savings and she took
she wiped out his savings and she took
she wiped out his savings and she took his job after the shelters closed owl
his job after the shelters closed owl
his job after the shelters closed owl moved into the woods behind his church
moved into the woods behind his church
moved into the woods behind his church his local congregation took care of him
his local congregation took care of him
his local congregation took care of him for many many months almost over a year
for many many months almost over a year
for many many months almost over a year until a federally funded long-term
until a federally funded long-term
until a federally funded long-term disaster recovery construction project
disaster recovery construction project
disaster recovery construction project started in Al’s community because al was
started in Al’s community because al was
started in Al’s community because al was homeless he received a hiring preference
homeless he received a hiring preference
homeless he received a hiring preference he got the job he kept the job and he
he got the job he kept the job and he
he got the job he kept the job and he moved up within this company now moved
moved up within this company now moved
moved up within this company now moved out of the woods behind this local
out of the woods behind this local
out of the woods behind this local church into an affordable housing
church into an affordable housing
church into an affordable housing development where he stayed for a year
development where he stayed for a year
development where he stayed for a year he kept his job and he was promoted once
he kept his job and he was promoted once
he kept his job and he was promoted once again where he moved to his new
again where he moved to his new
again where he moved to his new apartment and Alvis began to put the
apartment and Alvis began to put the
apartment and Alvis began to put the pieces of his life back together again
pieces of his life back together again
pieces of his life back together again Al’s story is one of thousands just like
Al’s story is one of thousands just like
Al’s story is one of thousands just like it whether it be an individual a
it whether it be an individual a
it whether it be an individual a business or a community these are the
business or a community these are the
business or a community these are the stories of disaster recovery stories of
stories of disaster recovery stories of
stories of disaster recovery stories of realizing beauty from ashes stories of
realizing beauty from ashes stories of
realizing beauty from ashes stories of moving beyond the disaster to a more
moving beyond the disaster to a more
moving beyond the disaster to a more resilient future stories of moving from
resilient future stories of moving from
resilient future stories of moving from adversity to opportunity thank you
adversity to opportunity thank you
adversity to opportunity thank you [Applause]
”
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