Having survived the threats of Fay and Dolly, and weathered the storms of Gustav and Ike, we are all very thankful that the physical damage in our area didn't live up to the dire forecasts.
Unfortunately, those directly in the paths of the most recent storms weren't so lucky, and the financial burdens from the past and recent storms continue to hinder ongoing recovery efforts for us all.
The one thing we have learned from all of the trials and tribulations of disaster recovery is that the people in this region are survivors.
Having lived through similar destruction from Hurricane Katrina, our community and surrounding neighbors began collecting necessary supplies and helpful relief items with the intent of giving back and serving a community that was out of the spotlight.
Our FEMA field representative told us that Cameron Parish Louisiana had been hit very hard and there were very little in recovery resources allocated to that area.
Representatives from St. Rose Outreach and Recovery, PNEUMA - Winds of Hope, Habitat for Humanity, Lagnaippe Presterberian Disaster Relief, small churches, and the Medical Clinic came together to organize a community relief effort to help our neighbors in Cameron.
When we pulled up to the check point outside Cameron, the Sheriff said “You are in the right place!” Bonnie and I smiled, “Right Place at the Right Time”, sure sounds like home.
The people we met were amazed and encouraged that the community of Bay St. Louis is able to help anyone. As we pulled into town there was an ambulance driver named Rusty that said, “It is the smile, that is what we need.”
Rita hit this region in 2005 with demolishing winds and high water that wiped homes and businesses off their foundations.
This time around, Louisiana was on the northeast side of Ike's surging waters and, according to figures from the National Weather Service, took on an extroardinary amount of water with an estimated storm surge of up to 15 feet.
In addition to downed power lines, washed out roads and destruction for miles, complicating clean up efforts are the number of roaming alligators and poisonous snakes, flushed from habitats making extreme southwestern Louisiana unsafe for residents to return after the storm.
Prior to Ike, Cameron Parish’s population had rebounded by nearly 80 percent of its pre-Rita population of about 10,000.
However, the cost of construction to meet new standards is high, and there have been long waits for insurance payouts and government recovery money needed to meet the expenses.
