Hurricane Ida made landfall in Louisiana on August 29, 2021, as one of the most powerful hurricanes to ever hit the state. The storm caused catastrophic damage across multiple parishes, displacing thousands of residents. The recovery process was further complicated by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which limited the ability of survivors to shelter in group settings. To address the unique housing challenges faced by disaster survivors, the State of Louisiana implemented a Disaster Case Management Program (DCMP) to assist affected residents in finding permanent housing solutions.

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H2Bravo was selected by GOHSEP as the Program Manager for the Hurricane Ida DCMP. H2Bravo’s scope included overseeing the implementation of the program and coordinating the operations of four disaster case management firms. The case management firms guided survivors through various recovery processes, helping them access services from Restore Louisiana (CDBG-DR Housing), LTRG (Long-Term Recovery Groups), USDA, SBA, and various other organizations. Additionally, the case managers assisted survivors in locating temporary and permanent housing and connected to survivors to resources such as legal assistance, healthcare, employment, transportation, and financial counseling.

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To support the program’s operations, H2Bravo developed and deployed a customized data management system within two weeks. This system guided case managers through the intake process, assessed household needs, matched survivors with available resources, and tracked follow-up actions to ensure that the survivor’s needs were met. The centralized system allowed for real-time tracking of case progress and provided GOHSEP with up-to-date program metrics to report to FEMA.

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One of H2Bravo’s key innovations was the implementation of a centralized resource tracking portal, which allowed case managers to identify available services by typology and geography. The portal ensured that case managers had up-to-date information on resource availability and eligibility criteria, preventing survivors from being referred to oversubscribed services.

Additionally, H2Bravo centralized quality control reviews, case manager oversight, and financial management within the program’s data system. This allowed H2Bravo to monitor case manager productivity, identify issues early, and implement corrective actions before cases became stale. The system also streamlined reporting processes, enabling GOHSEP to provide real-time updates to FEMA.

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H2Bravo’s ability to deploy a fully operational management and quality control team within two weeks, along with its flexible staffing approach, allowed the program to adapt quickly to changing needs. The team provided additional support, such as deploying construction cost analysts and reviewers during high-volume periods and demobilizing staff when the needs subsided. These efforts ensured that disaster survivors received timely and effective assistance while navigating their recovery.