Convoy of Hope’s points of distribution in Houma and Gonzales, Louisiana, served more than 1,000 families Tuesday. Community members received food, water, baby care kits, tarps, and other essentials to help sustain them as they begin the process of rebuilding what Hurricane Ida destroyed.
Today, Convoy is in the New Orleans area -- Laplace and Kenner, Louisiana to give people food, water, & tarps they need. There is no electricity anywhere and the "feels like" temps are 100+ so there is no relief from the heat for people here. The biggest issue right now is getting power restored, which is a monumental task because power lines are down EVERYWHERE. But, we see a lot of power crews from neighboring states working on it. Also, just a handful of gas stations have gas and generators to sell gas so the lines for fuel are very, very long. - Ethan Forhetz, COH National Spokesperson in a message to us
It was a hard experience for residents
“People were terrified. People were saying that it was the scariest storm they have experienced,” said Stacy Lamb of Convoy of Hope’s Disaster Services team. “But there is a sense of hope and optimism — knowing that it could have been much worse, and that things are going to be all right.”
Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards shared a similar sentiment in a recent press conference: “I know that a lot of people out there are tired. Sometimes this can be too much to bear. It’s a lot to deal with. But I know the people of our state are stronger than the strongest of storms, our spirit is unbreakable, and we’re going to embark on this road to recovery together.”