West Jordan • As New Orleans began rebuilding after Hurricane Katrina struck in 2005, many residents were unable to prove they owned their late parents’ home because there was no will showing they had inherited the property.
Without clear title, getting disaster assistance to rebuild became difficult, according to Georgia State University law professor John Marshall, who worked with New Orleans authorities to help revitalize the city. He said the property title situation was just one of the issues that demonstrated the need for attorneys to help plan for a catastrophe.
“No matter who you are, no matter what hat you wear, there’s a role to play when disaster strikes,” Marshall said Wednesday at a two-day conference on emergency disaster law at the Viridian Center.