The coastal areas in Texas (The Corpus Christie, Rockport area) where Harvey made landfall saw total devastation from the Category 4 hurricane force.
Parts of southwest Louisiana experienced flooding also, especially after Sabine River flooded and caused Interstate 10 between Texas and Louisiana to close down.Parts of I- were totally submerged by water.After the storm several communities assisted evacuees from Texas and SW Louisiana.
Several hundred evacuees arrived at Jennings alone aand I decided to go there to make my self useful for a few hours.
I went over to Days Inn, by the Jennings airport since I knew many were housed there. From there I was sent to a storage building on Cuttting Avenue, were donations were dropped, sorted and distributed to evacuees in need of clothing, shoes, diapers, toys, paper towels, toilet paper and more.
I spent a few hours there. I didn't really do much, but what I did no one else had to do.
During a break I talked to one of the volunteers and asked if he had worked a lot during the extended Labor Day weekend.
He looked at me and replied quietly: Not really. I am actually one of the evacuees, my home in Winnie was flooded and I was eventually rescued and airlifted by US Navy.
He said he really didn't want to leave his home.
"I wanted them to rescue families and children first. I'm 62 years old, don't have a family and really don't have them many years left anyway."
He explained he lives near a marsh and two times before had he lost most of his belongings in flooding. This time he got time enough to save a valuable items, including his hunting weapons before as he said, he was "tricked to evacuate, by the helicopter crew. He stayed with his sister in Lake Arthur, but was anxious to return home to to see what kind of damage his home had received. Meanwhile he volunteered to assist other victims of the rising waters. Indeed, a true hero.
A family of five walked in the distribution center, a mom, dad and three little girls. This Texas family had lost everything, except for what they had to load up in their vehicle, before the rising waters took over their home. It was very moving, very emotional to watch this family and they gratitude they showed for what they received. There were also room for a few smile as we watched the two girls checking out the donated toys.
It was just impressive to witness how a community can come together and assist others in need.
Less heroic efforts were made my the Budget Inn Motel in Jennings. Allegedly the motel took in refugees, but charged them $50 per room a night. They wanted cash and pay for a week in advance. Other volunteers in Jennings dropped off food and water at the motel's lobby, reserved for the evacuees. The motel allegedly charged the evacuees $8 per meal, plus $1 per bottle of water for the donated items.
This issue is now reported to the Jennings police and the Attorney General of Louisiana. If the above is true one can only hope that the owner of the motel will loose his license to operate this stinky business.
When I drove back to Welsh I could not help to think about the many stories I heard from Hurricane Katrina evacuees 12 years ago. The couple of hours in Jennings brought back so many memories. So many evacuees came to seek shelter in Jeff Davis Parish, before chased away by Hurricane Rita, which made landfall at the mouth of Sabine River about three weeks after Hurricane K.
Meanwhile another hurricane (Irma) is aiming as the coastlines of Florida. More devastation could be in the forecast. The storm is estimated to make landfall in Florida around Sunday, August 10. Mandatory evacuation of all tourists in the Florida Keys is already in effect. More evacuation orders can be expected during the coming days.
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