In the chaotic aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the world witnessed an unprecedented level of destruction in New Orleans. While emergency responders managed the immediate crises, many residents found themselves adrift in a sea of uncertainty, with no clear roadmap to recovery. It was in this context that SBP (formerly known as St. Bernard Project) emerged, founded in 2006 in St. Bernard Parish, New Orleans, with a singular mission: to shrink the time between disaster and recovery for vulnerable populations. Nearly two decades later, SBP has rebuilt over 6,300 homes across 16 U.S. communities and The Bahamas , demonstrating its unwavering commitment to helping families and communities reclaim their lives after disasters. The organization's pioneering approaches to disaster recovery—coupled with a relentless focus on efficiency, resilience, and empathy—have positioned it as a national leader in long-term recovery efforts. An Eye-Opening Beginning "After Katrina, there was a pervasive sense that recovery was something the United States could handle with ease," explains Andy Stofleth, SBP Senior Director of Recovery Programs. "But when our founders began working in St. Bernard Parish, they encountered a different reality: families living in attics, standing in line for food, and languishing without a path forward."
Recovery, the organization understood, was neither fast nor predictable, especially for low-capacity communities. "There’s an entirely different kind of trauma that comes from waiting for years after a disaster, not knowing when things will return to normal,” Andy continues. "We saw the opportunity to rethink disaster recovery—to shrink the timeline and reduce suffering for those most vulnerable."
The Mission to Shrink Recovery Timelines
This stark realization shaped SBP's mission.
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