Daily Real Estate News  |  October 5, 2005  |   NAR Sends Mobile Offices to Hurricane-Hit Associations In addition to raising millions for hurricane victims through its REALTORSŪ Relief Foundation, the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORSŪ is helping local REALTORŪ associations that were hit hardest by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita get back up and running. NAR will ship two mobile offices this week to the New Orleans Metropolitan Association of REALTORSŪ and one mobile office to the Southwest Louisiana Association of REALTORSŪ in Lake Charles, La. The offices will give staff a temporary place to work as they rebuild or find new office space, says Janet Branton, NAR’s vice president of business specialties who is spearheading the effort. Depending on the permits secured by the associations, mobile offices will either be 12-by-56 square feet and accommodate six people, or 10-by-46 square feet and accommodate three people. Both sizes will come equipped with a bathroom and stair entrance. NAR is leasing the mobile offices from Rochester, Ind.-based Jobsite Trailer Corp., a manufacturer of residential and commercial trailers. NAR has determined that all local association offices are operational in Alabama and Missisippi, and that only the two offices in Louisiana are in need of temporary office space. Branton also has contacted the Texas Association of REALTORSŪ to determine if it needs any office assistance after Hurricane Rita and is waiting to hear back. NAR will cover the cost of delivering the mobile offices and pay the monthly lease for one year, Branton says. It also will help the associations with any office equipment needs, such as computers, phones, fax machines, and copiers. Jackie Kibodeaux, CEO of the Southwest Louisiana Association of REALTORSŪ, burst into tears when Branton told her that NAR will be shipping her a temporary office. Kibodeaux says her office in Lake Charles, La., is uninhabitable due to water damage from Hurricane Rita and her assistant, Jade Walker, packed up the office on Tuesday and moved what wasn’t damaged into two storage units. “I’m very proud to be associated with people who reach out and help like NAR has,” says Kibodeaux, choking back tears on Tuesday from a hotel room in Baton Rouge. She's staying at the hotel because her home in Lake Charles has no power. “It’s overwhelming," she says. "I feel very, very fortunate to be associated with people with such compassion and who have reached out. They haven’t paid lip service. They’ve come through when people needed them. And I can’t tell you the gratitude we feel.” “Board staffs are some of the most dedicated people in the world,” Branton says. “They can’t even go to their homes and they’re trying to run their boards. These people are so amazing.” NAR also is administering the REALTORSŪ Relief Foundation, which is collecting donations from individuals, real estate companies, and state and local REALTORŪ associations to directly aid victims of Hurricane Katrina. To date, the foundation has collected nearly $5 million. You also can donate at REALTOR.org. Hurricane Katrina Coverage Main Page To read more about Hurricane Katrina and NAR relief efforts, go to REALTOR.org. —By Haley M. Hwang for REALTORŪ Magazine Online