I N F O @ T H E E L E V A T E D S T U D I O . O R G — W W W . T H E E L E V A T E D S T U D I O . O R G —

A U G U S T 3 0 - S E P T E M B E R 1 3 , 2 0 1 7

HURRICANE IRMAAugust 30 - September 13, 2017, the Category 5 hurricane Irma caused widespread damage in the

northern Carribean as well as the Florida Keys before heading north. In Jacksonville, Florida, the wind and

rain along with tidal flow met the already saturated inland waterways and caused the St. Johns River to

jump its banks and flood the city in a devastating and unexpected way. The city of 900,000 had not seen

such severe flooding since 1835 when the population was about 1000. Jacksonville continued to deal with

flooding even after the storm was gone due to the water flowing down from the northern part of the river

and the periodic tides rushing in.

D A M A G E T O J A C K S O N V I L L E

$85MP O P U L A T I O N O F D U V A L C O U N T Y

950,181

Y R S S I N C E I R M A

2

N O R T H E A S T F L O R I D A LT R O

The Northeast Florida Long Term Recovery

Organization is a collaborative network of

governmental, business, faith-based and nonprofit

organizations working together to help individuals

and families in Duval and Nassau counties who need

assistance recovering from Hurricane Irma.

S U S T A I N E D W I N D

130MPHI R M A F A T A L I T I E S

I N F L .

84F L O R I D I A N S W H O

E V A C U A T E D

6.5M

Ability HousingAmerican Red Cross of Northeast FloridaBaptist HealthBarnabas CenterCatholic Charities Bureau – JacksonvilleCatholic Charities Bureau – DOSAClay SafetyNet AllianceCity of Jacksonville

Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of FloridaElderSourceEndeavorsFamily Foundations of Northeast Florida, Inc.FEMAFeeding Northeast FloridaFlorida Conference United Methodist ChurchFlorida Department of Children

& FamiliesFlorida Presbyterian Disaster Assistance NetworkGrace and Truth CDCHabitat for Humanity of Jacksonville, Inc.Hunger FightJax Metro/Self-Help Credit UnionJessie Ball duPont FundJewish Family & Community Services, Inc.LISC JacksonvilleMetro North Community Development CorporationModular Life SolutionsNassau CountyNassau Public Private PartnershipNonprofit Center of Northeast FloridaNortheast Florida Builders Association Builders Care Inc.

Northwest Jacksonville CDCPresbyterian Social MinistriesRotary District 6970St. Paul AME Church Disaster Relief MinistryThe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Jacksonville East StakeThe Community Foundation for Northeast FloridaThe Elevated Studio, Inc.The Independent Resource Living CenterThe Salvation Army of Northeast FloridaThree Rivers Legal ServicesTransforming Communities Community Development CorporationUnited Way of Northeast FloridaVolunteer FloridaWealth Watchers Inc.

F O L L O W U S @ T H E E L E V A T E D S T U D I O

R E S I L I E N C E T H R O U G H E D U C A T I O N A N D D E S I G N C L I N I C S

REDC N.E. FLORIDA

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below the poverty line

15.1%

D I S P A R I T Y L E A D S T O D I F F I C U LT Y I N R E C O V E R Y

Survivors of a disaster are often faced with

challenges that their life experience has not

prepared them for. They may be sleeping on

a friends couch while still going to work and

caring for children, family members, pets. They

may be faced with an unlivable home or one

that no longer exists. They may have lost all their

belongings, treasured memories and even family

or friends. They may be scared about what the

future holds for them and their safety during

future storms. Recovery is difficult and much

depends on individuals circumstances.

Throughout our leadership role in the disaster

recovery, homeowners that we have met and

assisted at some point asked us, “What now?

How do I make my family safe? How can

you help us make our home safe from future

storms?” At times, it is a difficult question

to respond to. With some, it is as simple as

elevating a boiler or electrical panel out of a

basement and harm’s way. For others, who may

still be working through the emotional trauma

from the storm, it might be knowing that the

home that their family was raised in may need

to be replaced. This is the reality for thousands

of homeowners in the region who still have not

begun their recovery process.

After most disasters, there is a large disparity

between those individuals who have financial

means, and those that do not. Those that do,

start and end their recovery quickly, typically

within 18 months, post-event. These individuals

tend to gain over $85,000 in wealth. The

wealthy can quickly retain the services of an

attorney, architect and contractor to expedite

their recovery. This speed of recovery

expands the socio-economic gap for affected

populations. Conversely, those families that

do not have the economic means to retain

professional services, take 3-5 times as long,

and lose approximately $20,000 in wealth. This

gap is becoming wider and wider with each

and every disaster. Especially when there is a

repetitive loss in the county where the disaster

occurs.

The Duval County (population +950,000)

and the surrounding counties’ demographics

indicate that there is a disproportionate number

of individuals are living in marginalized and

vulnerable neighborhoods. 16% of the population

lives in poverty In Duval County alone, there

were 65,627 applicants (<30% and <50% LMI)

for individual assistance through FEMA. 9,255

received assistance, leaving an unmet need of

56,372 residents.

under 18

22.6%over 65

14%people of color

40%people with access or

functional need

10%

F O L L O W U S @ T H E E L E V A T E D S T U D I O

R E S I L I E N C E T H R O U G H E D U C A T I O N A N D D E S I G N C L I N I C S

REDC

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G O A L S O B J E C T I V E S

T H E E L E V A T E D S T U D I O

The Elevated Studio promotes social equity

by expanding access to socially-responsible

design that helps communities achieve

economic and physical resilience and

sustainability.

We believe that every member of a

community should have access to and benefit

from socially-responsible design. We believe

that social, economic, and physical resilience

and sustainability are intertwined and within

reach to all.

• Provide innovative and inclusive community

and survivor-centric client management

and cost-effective, resilient design and

reconstruction for homeowners and

community members;

• Educate property owners (regardless of

building/property scale) and local design and

construction professionals on the importance

of building back better;

• Provide a forum for inclusive community

engagement centered on preparedness and

mitigation of future climate events.

• Providing a passionate team of design

professionals and disaster case managers to

support disaster-impacted property owners

regardless of social, economic or political

boundaries. Special attention is given to those

individuals who may fall into one of the many

vulnerable population categories;

• Ensuring that high-quality sustainability

and resilience standards and practices are

implemented throughout the rebuilding process;

• Engaging with disaster case management

programs and providing the necessary training

to those entities on the importance of marrying

a Disaster Case Management Professional with

design/construction services, thereby shortening

the recovery timeline for the property owner;

• Employing a community engagement process

for educating program clients (property owners)

about the vulnerabilities and needs of their

home or business; this may include disaster risk

mitigation, the reconstruction process, and/or

how to maintain their new homes or buildings;

• Advising local builders in the use of safer, more

resilient building techniques and materials; and

• Engaging local professionals in program-

related activities, to create job opportunities and

support the local economy.

F O L L O W U S @ T H E E L E V A T E D S T U D I O

WE SEE A BEAUTIFUL

PLACE!

F O L L O W U S @ T H E E L E V A T E D S T U D I O

R E S I L I E N C E T H R O U G H E D U C AT I O N A N D D E S I G N C L I N I C S

REDC

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I N A P O S T- D I S A S T E R W O R L D , I N D I V I D U A L S A N D C O M M U N I T I E S O F T E N D O N ’ T U N D E R S TA N D W H AT R E C O V E R Y L O O K S L I K E . T H E L A N D S C A P E H A S B E E N D E S T R OY E D A N D C O M M U N I T Y R E S O U R C E S H AV E B E E N C O M P R O M I S E D . S U R V I V O R S WA N T T H E I R P R E - D I S A S T E R L I F E B A C K B U T D O N ’ T K N O W T H E S T E P S T O TA K E T O G E T T H E R E .

Shortly after the superstorm Sandy recov-ery had begun, a significant gap was rec-ognized in the needs of the survivors. Many homeowners were still waiting for financial and reconstruction assistance for repairing damage to their homes. Few residents had been able to start, let alone complete their reconstruction efforts, due to constraints of available funding or confusion regarding how to rebuild in an efficient, safe and re-sponsible manner. Property owners, many of whom were part of a vulnerable demograph-ic, needed more guidance in their recovery options. For this reason the Elevated Studio was founded. The Elevated Studio is a non-profit architecture and case management organization, that helps survivors return to their home sooner.

In order to understand the extent of the survivors needs, The Elevated Studio created the Resilience through Education and Design Clinics (REDC) program.

REDC is the first phase of our recovery pro-gram for individuals and communities. This provides Community Design Workshops, Rebuilding Clinics, and Educational Forums. The Elevated Studio’s aim is to bridge the gap between the social service and the reconstruction process by forging strong collaborations between long-term recovery groups, disaster case management profes-sionals, and design professionals, setting the stage to provide a holistic and inclusive com-munity and survivor-centric recovery.

• Community Design Workshops - Community members analyze, discuss and map their

observations, and knowledge about their community and the disaster. These can lead to a master

plan or help to solve a particular community issue.

• Rebuilding Clinics - Provide homeowners with access to design professionals who will advise on

recovery options unique to their individual needs.

• Educational Forum - Understanding the roles of professionals; insurance; funding sources; legal

and property tax rights; and moving through the recovery quagmire. Teaching stakeholders the

importance of rebuilding better.

I N F O @ T H E E L E V A T E D S T U D I O . O R G — W W W . T H E E L E V A T E D S T U D I O . O R G —

W H Y W E D O T H I S

The Elevated Studio’s mission is to help the most vulnerable affected by disaster. After most disasters, there is a

large disparity between those individuals who have financial means, and those who do not. Those who do, start

and end their recovery quickly, typically within 18 months, post-event. These individuals tend to gain over $85,000

in wealth because of the speed of recovery. The wealthy can quickly retain the services of an attorney, architect

and contractor to expedite their recovery. This speed of recovery expands the socio-economic gap for affected

populations.

Conversely, those families that do not have the economic means to retain professional services, take 3-5 times as

long, and lose approximately $20,000 in wealth. This gap is becoming wider and wider with each and every disaster,

especially when there is a repetitive loss in the county where the disaster occurs. The Elevated Studio believes

that the REDC program can help level the playing field. We empower new constituencies around sustainability and

resiliency. We create community champions for change who can continue to advocate and raise awareness long

after the program activities end. These community champions will help create a union of preparedness and mitigate

against future hazards.

F O R C O M M U N I T I E S :

• REDC leverages local non-

profits to bring together

existing community resources.

• REDC brings in professionals

to educate the community

when knowledge is lacking.

• Brings together local groups

to analyse neighborhood

amenities and challenges.

• Empowers neighbors to think

holistically about their world

and their recovery.

• We teach prepareness

techniques.

• We promote sustainable

neighborhoods.

F O R D E S I G N A N D C O N S T R U C T I O N

P R O F E S S I O N A L S :

F O R P R O P E R T Y O W N E R S :

R E S I L I E N C E T H R O U G H E D U C AT I O N A N D D E S I G N C L I N I C S

REDC

• Educating owners with a direction

toward holistic, survivor-centric

recovery.

• Understanding the CDBG-

DR funding program and

documentation

• Access to design professionals

• Preliminary design discussion

• Explanations on how to select an

architect and contractor

• Learn about the vulnerabilities of

their buildings;

• Increased mental health and

awareness

• Understanding legal and financial

rights during recovery

• Avoiding fraud

• REDC educates design professional

on building back better

• Educates contractors on resilient and

sustainable design details

• Trains contractors to build back

better

• Reduce construction waste

• Rebuild sustainably

• Building with the eye toward the

survivor and not just dollar