In St. John the Baptist Parish in Louisiana, neighborhoods were filled with rubble, as families tried to comb through the wreckage left behind during Hurricane Ida's wrath.Cemetria Shelby lives in Spring Meadows in Laplace, Louisiana, and said, "It has taken a toll. A great toll physically, mentally, emotionally."Shelby said in 2012 her home was flooded in Issac. It was hit by a tornado in 2016, now taking water during Ida. "There was not anything we could salvage on the floor. We had to go into the only thing we know to do. Start salvaging what you can," said Shelby.She is not alone. Lendell Smith lives down the street and said it is his fourth time flooding since moving into The Meadows. This time he and his family had to escape the waters by going inside his attic."We lost everything. Gotta gut the whole thing out again. It is depressing, but we are survivors. From within two to five minutes, it was so much. I have never seen water come that fast."Two things that stick out for the residents is the lack of electricity and mounds of rubble left out on the streets. Power restoration continues throughout the parish. Parish President Jaclyn Hotard said she has taken measures to try ensuring trash and rubble are picked up."An emergency bid for garbage collection. I have executed agreements to increase our disposal capacity. We also have additional trucks coming into the parish tomorrow to assist with that effort," she said.For those still in the dark, it has been a lot of long and hot days trying to rebuild the lives they once knew. Even with continued flooding, many said leaving Laplace was out of the question."Where you gonna move to? There are earthquakes on the west coast. There are snow blizzards on the east coast. Where ya gonna go? Cannot run from Mother Nature," said Smith.Hotard said there is no levee protection surrounding St. John the Baptist Parish. There is a levee project in the works, but it will likely take until 2024 before we see real progress made.
In St. John the Baptist Parish in Louisiana, neighborhoods were filled with rubble, as families tried to comb through the wreckage left behind during Hurricane Ida's wrath.
Cemetria Shelby lives in Spring Meadows in Laplace, Louisiana, and said, "It has taken a toll. A great toll physically, mentally, emotionally."
Shelby said in 2012 her home was flooded in Issac. It was hit by a tornado in 2016, now taking water during Ida.
"There was not anything we could salvage on the floor. We had to go into the only thing we know to do. Start salvaging what you can," said Shelby.
She is not alone. Lendell Smith lives down the street and said it is his fourth time flooding since moving into The Meadows. This time he and his family had to escape the waters by going inside his attic.
"We lost everything. Gotta gut the whole thing out again. It is depressing, but we are survivors. From within two to five minutes, it was so much. I have never seen water come that fast."
Two things that stick out for the residents is the lack of electricity and mounds of rubble left out on the streets.
Power restoration continues throughout the parish. Parish President Jaclyn Hotard said she has taken measures to try ensuring trash and rubble are picked up.
"An emergency bid for garbage collection. I have executed agreements to increase our disposal capacity. We also have additional trucks coming into the parish tomorrow to assist with that effort," she said.
For those still in the dark, it has been a lot of long and hot days trying to rebuild the lives they once knew. Even with continued flooding, many said leaving Laplace was out of the question.
"Where you gonna move to? There are earthquakes on the west coast. There are snow blizzards on the east coast. Where ya gonna go? Cannot run from Mother Nature," said Smith.
Hotard said there is no levee protection surrounding St. John the Baptist Parish. There is a levee project in the works, but it will likely take until 2024 before we see real progress made.
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