While it has been several months since Hurricane Barry impacted the residents of Lafitte, Barataria, and Crown Pointe, CCANO has been actively working with Father Luke Nguyen of St. Anthony Church and local officials to provide 25 families with direct assistance thanks to funding from the Greater New Orleans Foundation and Catholic Charities USA. As of December 1, 2019, we have provided those affected with $11,000 of appliances, replacement clothes, bedding, household goods, tools, cleaning supplies, and food. After the emergency food and cleaning supplies drive coordinated by CCANO, St. Anthony church, Second Harvest, and Jefferson Parish in July, we have been helping people on the ground like “Mary” and “Jake.”
A single mother living in an unraised single-story home in Barataria, Mary took on 20 inches of water due to Barry. CCANO assessed the damage to her home where she lost two beds, clothing, and multiple appliances. Her family and neighbors mucked and gutted Mary’s house within three days of the water receding. After replacing damaged clothing and household items, CCANO was able to help with finding household goods and appliances once Mary’s insurance company concluded their findings.
Jake, a 63 year-old disabled man, was renting a sloop for his houseboat at a local Lafitte marina. He supplements his disability income by charging other marina tenants a small amount to do their laundry in his machines. Unfortunately, his fridge, washer, and dryer all flooded due to Barry storm-surge. We assessed the damage to his property and enrolled him in case management. Jake attended the emergency food distribution and later received a gift card to replace lost clothing and household goods. CCANO arranged for A-1 Appliances to deliver a replacement washer, dryer, and fridge to his home.
Barry was not the first storm South Louisiana has seen, and it will not be our last. Thankfully, our community rises to the occasion and takes care of each other, pitching in when we hear of a neighbor in need. Learn more about our Disaster Recovery case management at www.ccano.org/disaster-response-services.
