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It has been about 12 days since Hurricane Laura hit the Lousiana coast, and given the pace of news lately, that might as well have been a decade ago.
But I’ve been spending a lot of time there, particular around Cameron Parish, and it’s still pretty rough.
But I’ve been spending a lot of time there, particular around Cameron Parish, and it’s still pretty rough.
I went around with the parish coroner as he tried to assess how many graves had been upended by the storm. At one cemetery, we found femur, radius and mandible bones in the grass.
Over 700 graves were disturbed by both Rita and Ike. Coffins were pulled from bayous and marshes.
Over 700 graves were disturbed by both Rita and Ike. Coffins were pulled from bayous and marshes.
Residents told me this intersection essentially constituted “downtown” in Creole, La., with a little restaurant and quick stop, and it’s pretty much wiped out.
This had been one of the few markets with fresh groceries in the area. It was also the site of fund-raisers for 4-H and neighbors with cancer. The store just turned a profit for the first time in over a decade, thanks to the growth of the nearby LNG plants.
The small local hospital, which had two doctors from out of town working in shifts, had been rebuilt after a previous hurricane, and it had been pounded this time by the storm surge.
In Cameron, the Anchors Up Grill’s foundation was about a football field away, and who knows where the boat came from.
And to add insult to injury, the traffic has been horrendous. In normal times, it would take a little over an hour to get from Cameron back to Beaumont. The other day, it took me over four.
Many in the area fear the rest of the country has moved on, but I can say the NYT hasn’t forgotten about Hurricane Laura’s devastation, or at the very least, I haven’t. Stories are coming! And if there are things that need to be covered, hmu.
I’m driving home to Atlanta now, but I’ll be back!
