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As the remnants of Hurricane Ida pounded the northeast on Thursday, the parish of Lafourche in southern Louisiana was just beginning the long road to recovery by restoring electricity, delivering clean water. in line and cleaning up debris.
Lafourche Parish President Archie Chaisson said despite the destruction, the coastal Louisiana community about 45 miles southwest of New Orleans came together after the storm.
“We’re a long way from where I thought we would be at this point,” Chaisson, a fifth-generation Louisiana, told Fox News Wednesday. “It has been a struggle but we are doing well. “
Chaisson estimated that about a quarter of all homes in Lafourche were completely destroyed and another 50% suffered moderate damage that will require repair.
Casey Gisclair, a Lafourche resident who weathered the storm in Texas, said the area currently looks like a “war zone.”
“It’s life changing. Our lives changed on Sunday. The life of our entire ward changed on Sunday,” Gisclair told Fox News. “There are houses where it looks like someone has walked in and dropped a bomb. There’s nothing left.”
REMAINS OF HURRICANE IDA BRING FLOODS AND TORNADOES TO THE NORTHEAST
Repairing homes will be a long process, but Chaisson said on Wednesday the local government is focused on restoring electricity and clean water for now, as well as ensuring people have food. and basic supplies.
“All of our pod sites, or distribution points, were opened yesterday,” Chaisson said. “People are getting tarps, water and MRE. We hope to open our fifth pod tomorrow.”
Representative Steve Scalise, a Republican who represents much of the Lafourche parish, met with Chaisson and other officials on Wednesday to discuss how state and federal governments can best help the community recover from the storm. .
Port Fourchon, which is responsible for about 90% of oil and gas production in the Gulf, was directly affected when Hurricane Ida hit the coast with winds of over 150 mph.
The port is now in a recovery phase as staff work to clean up debris, secure roads and access the area to assess damage.
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As residents return home to Lafourche parish, Gisclair recognized the long road ahead.
“It’s a process that is going to take months,” he said. “It will be something that will last a very, very long time.”
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