Hurricane Laura, August 27, 2020
As Louisianans are watching the Gulf of Mexico in what could be the first storm to impact the state this hurricane season, the City of Lake Charles continues to struggle with the devastation of Laura that made landfall a year ago today. Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter said they’ve also endured Hurricane Delta, a winter storm, and a major flood in May.
“What we’ve been through with four federally declared natural disasters over ten months, more than any other American city it is unconscionable that we have not received supplemental disaster aid to help people rebuild,” said Hunter.
According to the Louisiana Office of Community Development, the unmet housing need is $326 million. Hunter said he remains diligent in lobbying Congress for significant funding.
“Until someone in DC tells me ‘Hey Nic it’s not happening, stop asking for it,’ I’m going to continue,” said Hunter.
Laura came ashore with 150 mile per hour winds and left behind an estimated 17.5 billion dollars in damage in Louisiana.
Hunter says there are still plenty of blue tarps and homes that have yet to be rebuilt after the fifth strongest storm to hit the US mainland and the second strongest to hit Louisiana, but he says the city’s residents have kept each other going.
“The resolve and the resiliency of the people here is just paramount, it’s remarkable,” said Hunter.
Comments