Engineers Without Borders - Building a new world, one community at a time

The New Orleans chapter of EWB-USA has identified ways in which Engineers Without Borders members can help New Orleans. Here are some posts from them:

Pride of Algiers Masonic Lodge #102; 922 Teche Street; New Orleans, LA
The lodge dates back to 1903 and is perhaps the oldest African American Masonic lodge in the country. It has served as anchor to the African American community of Algiers, offering a venue for dances and community meetings in the past. It also touts a rich musical history having hosted jazz performers such as Louis Armstrong, and Ray Charles. The building suffered some severe damage in the storm, and since some structural issues have been identified (such as a cracked foundation). They are hoping to offer community programs, such adult literacy courses and after school programs, so we see them as a future anchor to the street.

EWB tasks:
1 - Assist the Masonic Lodge to develop a construction cost estimate for the repairs needed, which include shoring the building, removing the layer of brick veneers on the front of the building, repair/replacing the original brick facade once the veneers are removed, removing internal sheetrock, replacing plumbing and electrical wiring to meet code. The lodge members have started to obtain estimates from contractors to shore the building as well as to remove the brick veneers. The members are available to meet contractors at the site. EWB would provide assistance to schedule site visits from contractors and would review the contractors estimates for consistency.
2 - With the construction cost estimate, assist the community to determine the value of preserving the building versus demolition and new construction.

The Preservation Resource Center of New Orleans

The Preservation Resource Center (PRC) of New Orleans, the organization leading this effort to assess the structural damages due to the recent tornadoes. The PRC has provided sample forms (attached) used previously by home inspectors after Hurricane Katrina. The forms may need to be slightly revised to take into consideration description of damage from the tornado in comparison to flood damage from the hurricane. If there are structural engineers available, the PRC can provide housing for up to 4 people from Wednesdays through Saturdays at the Queen & Crescent Hotel, located near the French Quarter (the accommodations are excellent). The volunteers would need to cover their own transportation and food costs.

Let emery.myers@mwhglobal.com know if you have any volunteers available - we are trying to move on this as soon as possible.

EWB-New Orleans (EWB-NOLA) was recently contacted by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, New Orleans office. The Trust is in urgent need of structural engineering support. Structural engineers with preservation experience are especially needed! The Trust offered to support an EWB intern during the summer to assist with coordination between professional structural engineer volunteers and the Trust. Our intern, a CE undergraduate at Stanford, will help the Trust identify & organize volunteers with the necessary skills to assist the Trust with their goal of preserving the historic character of New Orleans' neighborhoods.

Our project with the Trust involves supporting their mission through a variety of volunteer activities, including meeting with home owners to address specific structural concerns, as well as the development of an EWB shoring program to assist with the design and construction of temporary supports for 90+ historic properties. Despite the historical status of these structures (they are within historically significant neighborhoods), they will be demolished by the city due to public safety concerns if action is not taken. Volunteers will work in a variety of historically significant neighborhoods throughout the city.

Lodging expenses for volunteers will be covered by the Trust though everyone is responsible for their own meals and transportation to and from the city. Once volunteer teams are booked you will be asked to arrange to have at least one vehicle (preferably two) at your team's disposal while in New Orleans for local transportation. If no cars are available, one can be rented and the cost split among the team members. The volunteer commitment is from Tuesday night through Saturday evening and the following dates still need support:

6/27-7/1 (4 people)
7/4-7/8 (4 people)
7/11-7/15 (4 people)
7/18-7/22 (4 people)
7 /24-7/29 (4 people)
8/1-8/5 (4 people)
8/8-8/12(4 people)
8/15-8/19 (4 people)
8/22-8/26(4 people)
8/29-9/2 (4 people)

To sign up to volunteer, or for more information, contact Greta Zornes at greta.zornes@ch2m.com. As is always the case, your volunteer spirit and efforts are greatly appreciated!

I met several of you at the conference and I know at that time there was a lot of interest in helping out in Louisiana and surrounding areas...now we're ready to get started!There are several of us with EWB-NOLA that have been working to find projects for EWB groups. We have a variety of contacts and possible projects. Now, we need interested and committed EWB gorups to help us follow through with some of the various community groups and nonprofits in New Orleans (and surrounding areas) that are looking for help. A lot of this work won't necessarily be engineering-related. What we hope is that as you work in the New Orleans area, you will continue to identify needs and hopefully more engineering-specific work will follow the initial trips. For now, here are some of the possibilities:- Work with a local nonprofit on clean-up and restoration of New Orleans famous cemeteries.- Assist a local nonprofit with deconstruction projects - including salvage of building materials including historical architectural salvage...help promote reuse of building materials and decrease amount of material going to landfills.- Work with a nonprofit daycare center to improve their facilities and play area- Construct/repair playgrounds at city schools- Work with City Park (a large urban park) to help with clean up, replanting, and rebuilding of their facilities- Support various neighborhood associations directly in their rebuilding/cleanup efforts.- Work in a National Wildlife Refuge to support their reconstruction and clean-up efforts- Work with Tulane students on various service projects including debris pick-up, painting schools, and various neighborhood clean-ups.