Reaching Communities in Crisis: Online Strategies and Resources for Disaster Recovery Equal Justice Conference 2014

Leah Margulies Project Director, LawHelp New York Adam Friedl Pro Bono Net, Program and Special Initiatives Manager Saundra Brown Manager - Disaster Relief Unit, Lone Star Legal Aid Liz Keith Program Director, Pro Bono Net Panelists

Leah Margulies LawHelpNY LawHelpNY’s Disaster Response Strategies and Resources

Welcome to New York City October 30, th & Lexington Station This was then

This is now—18 months later, currently scheduled to re-open by July 4, 2014

Breezy Point: Then and Now

My New York Legal Help blog, entries tagged Disaster Relief. Approximately 70,000 visits between when Sandy hit and the end of 2013.

New LawHelpNY blog launched this week: Rights, Education, Access, Law

In New York, there are two rebuild programs—NY Rising (NYS) and Build It Back (NYC) But to date, very few homes have been rebuilt.

Insurance, home and flood, has emerged as a top concern

The new LawHelpNY.org – Disaster Recovery and Relief highlighted

TLC HEART - leader in developing resources on flood insurance

Tweeting in English

Spanish blog and Spanish Twitter

This just in: Proof of loss submissions extended to October 2014

Clinics this week

Launching this month!

Published end of February, 2014: Downloaded 652 times

Ten Trends

Five Tips

Old-fashioned way of doing outreach – but posted on flickr

Adam Friedl Pro Bono Net Technology and Disaster Legal Aid: Lessons from Sandy and Next Steps

★ PBN and the legal response to Sandy ★ New Pro Bono Net initiatives ★ Technology and disaster legal aid Outline

Sandy portal on probono.net/ny/nyc Comprehensive resource library Over 700 pro bono attorneys trained Sandy listserv and conference calls 150+ listserv members regular participants in bi-weekly calls FEMAAppeals.org Online FEMA appeal generator PBN & the Sandy Legal Response

Different victims had very different needs Difficulty with government assistance Efficient pro bono allocation difficult Inequalities in storm’s impact and recovery Disaster Lawyering Conference: Observations from 1 year later

Need for attorney flexibility / coordination Preparedness and response plans important Efficient use of pro bono attorneys Technology integral to disaster legal aid Disaster Lawyering Conference: Lessons Learned

Pro bono representation conflicts Lack of communication from gov’t agencies Cross-agency collaboration Insurance policy complications Overcoming obstacles

New York Disaster Legal Response Network Disaster Legal Aid National Advisory Group FEMAAppeals tool Pro Bono Net initiatives

Goals Plan a more permanent network for New York Institutionalize collaboration Prepare the legal community for the next disaster Tentative Plan May: kick-off reception June: interest group meetings July: formal network building August: network launch New York Disaster Legal Response Network

Using the NYC Pro Bono Center ResourcesEvents Guides & Checklists News & Alerts Member directory Pro bono & volunteer opportunities

Disaster legal response experts Legal Services Corporation American Bar Association Legal services programs and law schools Pro Bono Net Web-based effort to assist legal services and pro bono attorneys with disaster- related cases Hosted on DisasterLegalAid.orgDisasterLegalAid.org Disaster Legal Aid National Advisory Group

DisasterLegalAid.org/advisorygroup Group information Online form for question/inquiry submission List of group members Attorneys with questions/inquiries complete online form Group members discuss questions/inquiries via listserv Designated group member responds to attorney Advisory Group Year 1 Plan

DisasterLegalAid.org/advisorygroup

Online Question/Inquiry Submission

FEMA has no standardized appeal CBJC developed pro se form after Sandy Pro Bono Net created online version through Hotdocs/A2J Generic version to be hosted on DisasterLegalAid.org DisasterLegalAid.org FEMAAppeals Tool

Institutionalized use of technology to assist in service delivery DisasterLegalAid.org Online training, preparation, resources, document assembly Technology and disaster legal aid

Less ad-hoc approach to using technology Valuable work of Pro Bono Net partners Technology and disaster legal aid

Saundra Brown Lone Star Legal Aid DisasterLegalAid.org Initiative

Liz Keith Pro Bono Net Looking Ahead: Leveraging Technology in Response & Outreach Efforts

Providing legal information, direct assistance and referrals to those in needed – and quickly Coordinating and supporting the legal community's response Mobilizing, training and supporting volunteers Capturing and sharing knowledge of busy experts Keeping volunteers informed and engaged as the long-term needs evolve Where can technology help?

Twilio.org Rapid Response Toolkit

Auto-responder for inbound voice or text messages Broadcast app for volunteers Ringdown Simple text-messaging HelpLine Used by Polaris Project for trafficking victims to send out a call for help SMS-powered survey Twilio.org Rapid Response Toolkit

Get local referral information Learn about upcoming clinics/workshops Appointment and deadline reminders SMS hotlines Other uses of SMS / text messaging to aid survivors Legal aid SMS initiatives underway in 5 states using Twilio and Mobile Commons

Emergency alerts Contact info for MEMA in 82 counties Active shelter information during a disaster Access to MEMA Twitter and Facebook updates without an account App examples - MEMA

Expert checklists

Earshot allows organization staff to receive and exchange messages, photos, completed forms, checklists, files and geographic information Used for gathering evidence, submitting field reports and coordinating personnel Communication & coordination

Red Cross Volunteer App

Considerations Build your relationships and networks before The immediate aftermath may not the time to introduce new tools Use tools your community is familiar with Any tech-enabled response will depend on the communications infrastructure of the affected region What is your experience?

Questions? Comments? Thoughts? Thank you!