Abita Springs, LA
Coming up on the 10th Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, we take a moment to ask, “Where were you and what is your story?” There are many, many stories and we need to listen to one another about our experience…it was life-changing!
NORMI, the National Organization of Remediators and Mold Inspectors was formed in Hammond, LA on July 4, 2004. Created to become a national certifying agency for mold professionals, our first trainings were held in the New Orleans area to train mold remediators so they could become licensed as Certified Mold Remediators in the State of Louisiana, the first state in the union to have licensing for mold professionals! It was a small beginning to what turned out to be a very fast and successful growth over the next eleven years.
But what happened just a year later following Katrina catapulted NORMI™ into the national spotlight because we were not carpet-baggers or “vultures” coming in for the kill, we were home-grown, already planted and dedicated training professionals committed to helping people clean it up right! Here’s what we did: 1) we held training sessions (some held even in our home) for homeowners and remediators to hone their skills and educate them on proper safety precautions and protocols, 2) we held FREE public seminars at the library in Jefferson Parish (with Paul LaGrange, Ronnie Wirth, Doug Hoffman and other experts) to help property owners work through the maze of insurance, the building department and other issues, handing out free copies of our book Mold-Free Construction, 3) we negotiated with underwriters to write a NORMI™ Certificate of Sanitization that could verify that work done was done properly and without the use of bleach, 4) we helped the DEQ (Department of Envionmental Quality) find a solution for the formaldehyde problem in FEMA trailers, and 5) we appeared on multiple TV stations and radio channels answering questions, simply making a positive difference in an environment that seemed all but positive!
The years following Katrina have dramatically changed the complexion of metro New Orleans. Covington, Mandeville and Abita Springs (where NORMI™ is now located) became a Northshore magnet for folks wanting to move out of the bowl of New Orleans yet remain close enough to enjoy the spirit of New Orleans. The look of neighborhoods in Lakeview changed dramatically as previously ground-based homes were elevated to avoid future flooding. Over and over again citizens expressed their gratefulness to God and others for having survived with their lives even when they had lost virtually every material possession. And faith-based organizations, rather than government, shined as the true heroes of a disaster because they were first to respond and first to supply the needs of those who needed a hand up not a hand-out! And so the recovery continues, even now.
This spot is not normally reserved for feedback but here, and wherever this is shared on social media, it would be wonderful to hear once again the wonderful stories of heroism, sacrifice and selflessness that marked the days following Katrina. Is there someone you’d like to honor? Do so here for we will never forget how the Gulf Coast continues to grow stronger as a result of a storm that could have destroyed lesser men! Thank you for being such an inspiration.
For more information about NORMI™ and training for mold professionals, email support@normi.org or call 877.251.2296
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