Project Management Community September/October 2005

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PMI RISK MANAGEMENT SIG FORMS DISASTER RELIEF INITIATIVE TO HELP PMI MEMBERS AFFECTED BY HURRICANE KATRINA

PMI's Risk Management SIG has launched a global initiative to provide assistance to PMI members who are in need following the devastation of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in the southern United States. According to the project abstract on the program's website, the group is trying "to pull together the resources available from PMI members to help those PMI members stricken by Hurricane Katrina. This is completely a grass-roots effort. All efforts are done by members on behalf of other PMI members. We are open to help and suggestions from anyone with a desire to help." The initiative's website already includes email addresses for 98 PMI members whose lives were seriously affected by the recent hurricanes and who are in need of some assistance.

The initiative's website at www.risksig.com/Katrina/ also identifies the following type of assistance needed: shelter; food, medicine, transportation, clothing, furniture, linens and employment. Cash and gift card contributions will also be accepted. The website also contains plans, milestones and contact information for participants, PMI members in need, and other aid organizations. The Disaster Relief initiative by the PMI Risk Management SIG was the result of discussions among PMI leaders at the recent PMI Leadership Conference and North American Congress held in Toronto during September 7-10, 2005. The group of PMI leaders from various cities and chapters around North America who constitute the project team include the following:

According to Chuck Bosler, sponsor of the initiative and Founder of PMI's Risk Management SIG, "we have a lot of PMI members who were badly affected by Hurricane Katrina. With all of the resources available within PMI, we should be able to mobilize some help. We are also working with the Project Manager's Disaster Recovery Coalition (www.pmdrc.org) to try to coordinate employment opportunities for PMI members in Louisiana and Mississippi, to get them involved in rebuilding projects back in their hometowns and areas. But immediate needs are more personal, like money for food and housing. Maybe PMI chapters and SIGs will also contribute financially to this initiative. Our hearts go out to those who have lost so much."

On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina hit the southern coast of the United States as a Category 4 storm with winds of 140 miles per hour and a 30-foot tidal surge. The Louisiana and Mississippi coastal areas were badly damaged, with over 1,000 lives lost and billions of dollars in property damage. The City of New Orleans was devastated as the tidal surge and torrential rains caused the levies on Lake Ponchartrain to burst, flooding the city and nearby parishes. On September 24, 2005, a second deadly storm, Hurricane Rita, hit the Louisiana Texas coastline as a Category 3 hurricane with 120 mile per hour winds, a 15 foot tidal surge and torrential rains (over 24 inches in some places). Over two million persons were evacuated prior to these two hurricanes, with thousands left homeless, billions of dollars of property damaged and many lives permanently affected. Many PMI members and project management professionals living in Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas were affected.

For more information, or to offer support or make contributions, go to www.risksig.com/Katrina/ or contact the Chairman@RiskSIG.com. The website provides an opportunity for PMI members in affected areas to sign in, describe their situation and current needs and to provide contact information for those who might help. A toll-free phone number is also provided for more confidential conversations.

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