From Staff Reports
L’Observateur

SEATTLE — St. John the Baptist Parish President Natalie Robottom and Disaster Recovery Manager Raymond Goodman traveled to Seattle at the request of a Coalition of Recovery Planners to discuss Hurricane Isaac recovery strategies.

The trip was the result of a collaborative effort between Washington and the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) National Disaster Recovery Support group to develop insight into key components of the parish’s recovery operations.

“I was thoroughly impressed with the way your parish was able to involve your whole community in the St. John the Baptist Recovery Strategy,” said Casey Broom, Pierce County recovery coordinator.

Robottom and Goodman spent three days meeting with the Seattle Planning Committee, King County Cabinet Members, Pierce County executives and more than 140 representatives of non-profit agencies, community organizations and emergency management officials in King County, Snohomish County and Pierce County (aka Puget Sound).

“It was our honor and privilege to meet with many officials in and around Seattle and share our long-term recovery strategy following Hurricane Isaac,” Goodman said.

Time was also spent with Seattle Mayor Ed Murray to further discuss the recovery process and engagement of the community.

“I believe in learning lessons from those who have developed real-life expertise by living through the severity of hurricanes and other disasters,” Murray said.