The Flood of 2016 (photo of Lafayette, LA, from the air August 20, 2016)
I returned last night after a week volunteering with Our Savior's Church, a non-denominational church in Lafayette, LA, gutting houses damaged by what is now called The Flood of 2016. Areas of some parishes (counties) are still under water.
Chances are you don’t know much about this under-reported disaster.
What happened?
- From August 11 to August 13 a massive weather system dropped the equivalent of 7.1trillion gallons of water over Louisiana from Baton Rouge to Lafayette.
- Over 146,000 homes were damaged or ruined.
- At least 30,000 people were rescued from cars and homes by local law enforcement and volunteers (informally known as the Cajun Navy) manning boats over the flooded areas.
- More than 11,000 were forced into state-operated shelters.
- In one of the 20 parishes (counties) affected, it is estimated that 75% of homes were “a total loss”.
- Thirteen died in the flooding.
- 1,400 pets have since been rescued from the deluge
- Because many of the areas that flooded were not in "high flood risk areas", the majority of homeowners affected by the flood did not have flood insurance.
- As of August 19, losses were estimated at $20.7 billion
Virtually every aspect of life in 20 parishes has been affected: agriculture, schools, police and fire departments, commerce and businesses, roads and highways, public transit, hospitals, government offices and services. Thousands are hurting, displaced, have no place to live, and still in shock.
Why did I go?
Lafayette is one of the most unique cultural areas I've experienced. I love to dance. The music is exceptionally diverse and exceptionally well-played by musicians who, for the most part, were born and raised here. The grub is a foodie's dream. For a dancer, Lafayette and surrounding cities and towns are paradise.
But what sets it apart from anywhere else I've ever visited is the people who live here. They are friendly, outgoing, proud of their heritage, and over the eight years I've visited, have made a Yankee like me feel welcome, introduced me to their friends, and invited me to their barbecues. That's just the way they are.
They may not share the same politics with each other or me, but when someone needs help, they show up.
I wanted to give something back to this special place and these special people that have given me so much.
As I worked with crews from Our Savior Church, I saw the faces of men and women whose material lives are now on the roadside in front of their homes in a mountainous pile of debris dragged outside their gutted homes.
Time is of the essence. Mold is the enemy. When moisture remains inside a home, mold begins growing within 24-48 hours. When our crew chiefs detected water/moisture in or behind sheet rock, insulation, ceiling and floor moldings, floor coverings, wall coverings, furniture, kitchen cabinets and counters, and bathroom vanities, we tore them out.
The week I worked was the last one in which we could enter with only an N-95 approved face-mask that filters out mold spores. The home we gutted on Thursday and Friday August 25, 26 had visible mold growing inside. Our crew chief said homes that had not been gutted and aired out would be overcome by mold and have to be quarantined. Work done after that needs to be done by people wearing Hazmat suits and respirators.
As for me, considering I found a link to Our Savior's Church in Lafayette after searching for hours online, and that it offered me a perfect opportunity to volunteer with them, it’s probably not an exaggeration to say there were a few small miracles involved. This church was one of the best organized, well-led organizations leading the charge to support an entire parish in crisis. I’ll get to that in the next post.
Photos by Paul A. Tamburello, Jr.
Southeast Louisiana around Baton Rouge was hit pretty bad. As an example, 90% of the homes in Denham Springs were flooded. You're right about it being underreported. I talked to a guy from Denham Springs last week and he seemed stunned that no one up here was paying attention.
R
Posted by: Rebecca Wilson | September 01, 2016 at 10:09 PM
Without officially knowing, I knew you'd be volunteering there. It's who you are.
Posted by: Nona Bock | September 01, 2016 at 11:19 PM
Thanks for your service to our state. Cindy and I are in Greece now but when we return we will look to see how we can help. Many of our New Orleans friends are traveling west and north to help out.
Posted by: Bill Ives | September 02, 2016 at 01:30 AM
Thanks for getting the word out about this, pt.
Posted by: Rebecca | September 02, 2016 at 07:03 AM
Thanks for going to LA to help the people who have welcomed and loved you so much these past years. And thanks for writing this piece. Much appreciated.
Posted by: Mishy Lesser | September 02, 2016 at 10:33 AM
Nice reporting. I look forward to the next part of the story.
Posted by: Ann Baker | September 02, 2016 at 10:34 AM
Your story is so beautifully done and heartfelt. You know how insprired I am that you gave a week of time to this effort. Every hour you spent was an hour of love for the people and the area. Even though I could only make a remote donation ($$$) to the effort, you were there and I am grateful for what you did. I know they are grateful as well.
Posted by: Kathy Jones | September 02, 2016 at 10:36 AM
You'll find this interesting, being a writer. Jefferson Hennessy, Jr coined the name "Cajun Navy" in an article that he wrote for Acadiana Profile after hurricane Katrina. Jeff died on Aug 20, 2016 of a heart attack. I'm friends with one of his sisters.
Here's a link to an article that he posted on his blogspot. I don't know if this is the original article as published in the magazine or not. I think it may be.
http://jeffersonhennessy.blogspot.com/2007/02/story-of-cajun-navy-how-herioc.html
Thanks for coming to help. I know it was greatly appreciated.
Posted by: Chris Trahan | September 02, 2016 at 10:51 AM
Paul- I was wondering if you were there. That's really wonderful. It must have been hard work but also rewarding. Do they need donations?
Posted by: Susan Bennett | September 02, 2016 at 10:56 AM
Chris,
Thanks for sending that powerful account of the origins of the Cajun Navy. Reading that link reinforces everything I've come to know about the unique kinds of people living in southwest Louisiana. When help is needed, they show up with resources,ingenuity, determination, and heart.
That Cajun Navy and other unnamed boaters were back in action right after the Flood of 2016 as were countless volunteers doing whatever was necessary to help friends and total strangers, first get to them to safety and then to help them gut their houses as a first step to life after the flood. That's just the way they're wired.
I guess some of that Cajun/Creole spirit has rubbed off on me. And finding the Our Savior Church volunteer effort paved the way for me to do it.
Posted by: Paul A. Tamburello, Jr. aka pt at large | September 02, 2016 at 12:07 PM
Thanks for sharing. This event was virtually ignored by most media. My sister and others have been displaced, homes gutted, cars lost. Her husband leads recovery efforts at St. Thomas More in BR. That neighborhood was particularly effected.
Thank God for only material loss, but we remember those who did lose loved ones!
Posted by: Allyson Mayeux | September 02, 2016 at 12:19 PM
Loved this story. So grateful to have run into you yesterday. I'd love to meet up for lunch and hear more about this, where you stayed at night, what you ate, and all that. Never thought about the mold. How you doing with that? Any ramifications?
Posted by: Diana | September 02, 2016 at 12:21 PM
Susan, based on my direct experience, I recommend sending a contribution to Our Savior's Church. Go to http://www.oursaviorschurch.com and see the "Donate to Flood Relief" tab on the home page and check out the video on home page (and the three with Pastor Jacob Aranza that appear after the his video on home page completes).
Their outreach and organization that helps hundreds of people is outstanding and is distributed regardless of religious affiliation.
Posted by: Paul A. Tamburello, Jr. aka pt at large | September 02, 2016 at 12:43 PM
PT, thank you for reporting, beautifully done as always, combined with your good heart and work. It's is a unique combo for which we are grateful...
Posted by: Joe Maglitta | September 02, 2016 at 03:17 PM
Good for you, very impressive of you to go and help. And thank you for this update. I did pay attention but this summary is very good.
Posted by: Carolyn Liesy | September 02, 2016 at 09:03 PM
HI Paul,
Thank you for the story behind the story. As you said, this has certainly been under reported. The incredible loss, and the disastrous mold, are wrenching. Please let us know where any funds and supplies can be sent.
Cathleen
Posted by: Cathleen Cavanaugh | September 04, 2016 at 10:17 AM
Paul, I so admire that you came down here and helped out the way you did. Looking forward to your next post.
Posted by: May Louise White | September 08, 2016 at 12:30 PM