It's been a while

I haven’t updated the site lately… I’ve found it difficult to find the words. At least reasonable, semi-coherent ones not written in a fit of anger or depression.

2005 is almost over. It was a crappy year, in my opinion. My family has taken a lot of hits. We are hoping next year is better.

I was in NOLA earlier this month. While most have emphasized the differences between NOLA and Cameron Parish, I found a few similarities. Houses appear to be intact, but really awaiting demolition. Phones are not effective tools for communications. Real business hours are not as advertised. Four trips are needed to accomplish what one phone call and one visit could pre-Katrina/Rita. USPS is an interesting creature. Mortgage companies are out of their minds and out of touch with their customers. Pharmacy lines are the longest in town, and prescriptions are filled 3 days at a time. People are depressed, optimistic, fatalistic and hanging in there. FEMA trailers are great Christmas presents. Insurance settlements are unpredictable, meager, and rare. No one knows the rules of how to rebuild. Rumors are rampant.

My grandfather is still missing. Found out someone closed his vault prior to the Coroner’s team arriving to survey the cemetery. They had not counted him as missing until mid-November. My uncle got a FEMA trailer for Christmas. My grandparents may go down in a few weeks work on the church. My uncle (really, cousin, but you know how it is) is living in his house, as well as some of his daughters and grandchildren. Another cousin is talking about rebuilding. Heard others want to rebuild but don’t know where the money will come from. My aunt has a FEMA trailer at her son’s in Carlyss. Alligators are sick and armadillos are everywhere. My uncle cut down most of his pine trees. My great-grandfather’s and great-uncle’s graves are intact on Smith Ridge.

I read an article in the NY Times about an idea to relocate the people of lower Cameron Parish. I have the flu but had a drink anyway. I knew it was just a matter of time before the suggestion was made and probably published but it didn’t make it any easier to read.

Has anyone heard about Monolithic Dome homes? I really wish someone in Cameron Parish would build one. Looks like they fare pretty well in a hurricane. Wish I’d win the lottery so I could build a few in Cameron Parish.

Joe & Amy Erbelding's old place

Here's a pic of Gran's house taken in Apr 2005, pre-Rita.

When I was a kid, Gran had a huge tree in her side yard. There was a rope swing we would play on... the swing was taken down because the limb was rotting. I guess the tree came down pre-Rita. Notice the steps floated back into the marsh.


When I was a kid we'd sit on the front porch and watch the world go by. Last time I was in the house was after my grandfather's funeral. The porch was rotting and a only a few abandoned rocking chairs were left to watch hwy 82.


The SE. I remember sitting at Gran's kitchen table, eating my Coke float and cookies, while looking out the northeast window. To this day I don't eat a float or a vanilla sandwich cookie without thinking of Gran.

The Cameron Pilot

Read the Cameron Pilot online!

Update 10/18/05

Called the Calcasieu Habitat for Humanity, and left a message for a call back to find out what their plans are for Cameron Parish.

Also called Christmas in April, Calcasieu Area: Rebuilding Together. Asked if they have plans to help residents in Cameron parish. She took my name and said someone would call me back... she didn't know what the plans are.

Some good news articles on KPLC TV's site:

Cameron Police Jury grapples with recovery
Cameron Parish Moving Forward

Search KPLC TV's site and you can find several video clips about or mentioning Cameron Parish.

Talked with my mother who called the Cameron Parish Coroner. He told her they'll start matching caskets with records/reports of disinterred people on Friday. My mother said they're having some difficulty figuring out where some graves were, because headstones were washed away by Audrey and now Rita. So, if you know of anyone who has very thorough knowledge of Cameron Parish cemeteries, you may ask him/her to give the Coroner a call... maybe s/he could help the Coroner figure out who was where. We found these 1999 genealogy inventories of Head of The Hollow and Smith Ridge, which my mother gave to the Coroner. Hope it helps someone.

Update 10/17/05

Called the Cameron Parish EOC line and talked with a pleasant fellow from the AL Natl' Guard. He gave me the Official word for the parish:

• He said the AL Natl' Guard are leaving today, and the ACE (Army Corps of Engineers) are taking over.
• He said the official word is Cameron Parish is now closed for "look and leave" and further information and dates about entering the parish, etc. can be obtained by calling 337-775-5306 or listening to 99.5 FM radio (he thought it was a Lake Charles station).
• He also said they are starting demolition on public buildings in Cameron Parish today, but will not be demo'ing homes without owner's permission.
• He said only insurance adustors or contractors with proper ID will be allowed in the parish, and there will be security checkpoints. If you need to get in the parish to be present while the insurance adjustor inspects your home, he said you should go through the checkpoint with the adjustor.
• He said if you are worried about the status of a family gravesite, to call the Cameron Parish Coroner at 337-842-0321.

Now... the UNofficial word:

There are some people working on their homes in the Johnson Bayou area, and people assume they will continue to be able to do so. Perhaps you can sweet talk your way in if you try....

And the personal word:

I saw a picture of tropical storm Wilma today and totally lost it. I got angry. Really angry. Stand on the beach and shake a stick at a hurricane angry.

And the nonprofit/charitable rebuilding word:

Spoke with Tony Silva today from America Continental 2000. He has some more ideas of how they can help people in Cameron parish and will be sending those to me in the next few days. I will pass them on as I receive them.

Why I Care

Erbelding, Griffith, Burch, Raggio, Wakefield, Martin, Rutherford, Trahan, Gillen, Welch, Caro, Obey, Vaughn, Labove, Orr, Primeaux, Thibodeaux, Clark, Vincent, Mirre.

Johnson Bayou, Cameron Parish, Vermillion Parish, Pecan Island, St. Mary’s Parish, St. Martinville, Lafayette, Choupique, Orange, Cove, Sulphur.

Those are the names and approximate locations of some of my ancestors.

I had prioritized my mother’s family at the end of my genealogical search, oddly enough because I know more about them than any other branch. Thought they’d take the most time to sort through… the most time to verify. I had planned on taking road trips, beginning this spring, to visit courthouses, cemeteries, and relatives. Ask for their help, show them my research, listen to their stories… laugh and visit and drink coffee. Most of all, I wanted my son to see southwest Louisiana and meet his family.

One of the first thoughts I had as Rita barreled towards Johnson Bayou was I may have waited just a little too late. Already numbed by Katrina, I was simply struck dumb at the thought that everything - people, familiar places, and family homes would just be GONE.

After Rita did her job, I held my breath… and then there she was, the Cameron Parish courthouse. Still standing, wet and damaged. Heard the basement was flooded, my heart stopped again… all of those records gone, gone, gone. Thank goodness everyone is alive and safe… but all of those records are gone, gone, gone. Then I heard records were moved from the basement, in anticipation of such an event. I really hope so.

I know it seems ridiculous to some that I’d bring up genealogy at a time like this… but I have a point.

I already knew my family had been in SW LA since the 1770’s. I knew the names and realized the families are big. I didn’t know I’d see family names on public buildings, or read about my cousins in the press. Suddenly the phrase “I’m related to everyone” took on a new reality. So did “we’ve been here forever”. I met a new cousin online and we shared information. I talked to cousins I haven’t seen in years… all of us focused one thing: helping our family through this.

I also know from my genealogy hobby this isn’t the first time Cameron Parish has taken a hit. Johnson Bayou was hit in the 1880’s by a hurricane and was turned from a little boomtown into something quite less. Audrey hit hard in 1957 and she was the standard of how awful it could get… until Rita. I know from my records that my family stayed through the 1880’s storm, and through Audrey and rebuilt. I know they will do it again.

Most of my immediate family left Johnson Bayou years before Rita. There are only a few that remain there who are close relatives. Our lady friend Rita may have hastened the exit of a few more of my family members from Johnson Bayou, but she gave me something in return. At least one new cousin I didn’t know about, and probably would have never met and the acceptance that my family will live on… in Johnson Bayou, Carlyss, Sulphur, Evadale, Crosby, Beaumont, Florien, Alexandria, Monroe….

We may be spread out, but we are still a family. We can still sit together and drink coffee and share stories. My son will still know them.

News

I am now a bit news challenged since the American Press stopped publishing their full paper online for free. You can still read the archives of the free issues on their site, along with a few front page stories they publish free.

Heard from relatives in Carlyss the best source for information, if you aren't able to go down into Cameron Parish is KPLC TV. You can get some information on their site, along with some video clips from on-air broadcasts. They have a really good one today called "Cameron Parish Update".

Today's Update 10/13

From KPLC TV's site:

FEMA and the Louisiana Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (OHSEP) announced today a Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) is opening on Thursday, Oct. 13. The recovery center in Cameron Parish will be open 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily to accommodate a local curfew. Location in Cameron Parish is Grand Lake Recreation Center, 125 Recreation Lane Grand Lake , La. 70607.

There's a nice bit from KPLC TV on the Cameron parish courthouse. You can view it on their site by clicking on "Cameron Landmark" on the Featured Video section at the bottom right.

American Press has an article today about disinterred bodies, phone number to call for information, at the end.

Not much new news...

Talked with family in Carlyss yesterday and their electricity was restored on Monday. Said it is spotty... neighbors don't have it yet. Said some people in Carlyss and in Johnson Bayou have had FEMA and insurance inspections, but there doesn't seem to be any particular order they are taking place in. Also heard a rumor they condemned the Johnson Bayou school.

My great-aunt had her FEMA inspection in Johnson Bayou and the inspector told her she qualifies for a FEMA trailer for a year, and at that year she has an option to buy it. Some plants in the area are contracting with FEMA to host FEMA trailers, since they have utilities. Rumor has it most qualifying for FEMA trailers intend to eventually move them to their property down in Cameron parish.

Gulf Coast Farmers Face Immediate Needs, Long-Term Challenges

You don't see a lot about farmers in the news.... but here's a nice bit.

Insurance Company Contact Numbers

Business Help

from the American Press 10/11/05:

"The Chamber/Southwest Louisiana has set up a business recovery center at its office on 120 W. Pujo St. The center is open 8 a.m.-4 p.m. weekdays.

Assisting business owners will be the Southwest Louisiana Partnership for Economic Development, the Louisiana Department of Economic Development and the Small Business Development Center at McNeese State University. Representatives of the U.S. Small Business Administration, which provides low-interest loans to affected businesses, will also be available. "Our hope is to provide as much information to the business community in one location as we possibly can," said Donna Addkison, president and CEO of the Chamber.

The center will help businesses in Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron and Jeff Davis parishes. At the state's request, the center will also be serving Sabine and Vernon parish businesses.

For more information, call the Chamber at 433-3632. "

Number to ID relatives who "surfaced" from Cameron Parish cemeteries

337-842-0321. They took my mother's and grandfather's names and will get in touch with her when they have information. FYI - She found this number by looking up the coroner office in Calcasieu Parish, called them, and they gave her the number.

Insurance Inspections BEFORE Demolition!!!!!

Talked with the EOC office in Cameron Parish. The nice lady there said the COE are starting demo 10/17, beginning with Grand Lake, Sweet Lake and Hackberry unless they are still under water. Call the EOC office 337-775-5306 for more information.

I also got a reply back from America Continental 2000, one of the nonprofits I've contacted that specializes in building after disasters and they advised everyone needs to get their insurance co to inspect the homes BEFORE ACE demos them.

The contact at America Continental 2000 is Tony Silva, 954-444-2741. He said his group can provide these insurance inspections and said they can do them by this weekend.

The EOC office said they will let insurance inspectors in the parish with id (business card, etc).

America Continental 2000 is licensed in the state of LA and are engineering and construction specialists in the industry since 1990. They can provide "full assesment and tell the extent of damages... provide basic scope due to structural damage for insurance companies".

This inspection will probably help people get MORE out of their insurance companies because the insurance company can argue more about damage if there's no house to inspect.... Plus, he can tell people if their home is salvageable and what needs to be done, and an estimate of how much it will cost.

Tony said he would love to help without being hired by the insurance companies for these inspections, but funds are short and they haven't received a lot of donations (most money has gone to larger groups like Red Cross), so they are trying to get income in lieu of donations through insurance companies and through FEMA contracts. They are not taking the contracts for profit... getting paid for some inspections and contracts will allow them to work on those projects plus others where no funding is available.

Tony said if anyone who hasn't had their home inspected will call their insurance company and tell the insurance company to call him at 954-444-2741, they can arrange for the inspection and he can fax them any licensing/certification they need.

This is up to you and your family if you want to pursue it... but I would appreciate you passing it along. You can read about the organization Tony is with at the site above or on Network for Good.

Demolition Date?

Saw a post on the KPLC TV's message board that the Army Corps of Engineers will be starting demolition of Cameron Parish on 10/17/05 - next Monday.

Don't know if it's true but I will try to find out and post more. None of my family members who were down in the parish over the weekend heard any dates or official information.

!@#$ing Insurance

If you need to contact the Louisiana Department of Insurance, click here.

If you're interested in hiring an independent Public Adjustor, click here and select "license type" and then select"public adjustor".

If you'd like to tell everyone what you think of the insurance industry, leave a comment below.

What is an Independent Public Adjustor? Someone you hire, for a flat fee, to negotiate the settlement between you and your insurance company. I've never used one but noticed some people hit by Katrina were thinking of getting one because they were jerked around in a previous negotiation.

Johnson Bayou: Move over Audrey... Heeeerrrreee's Rita!

photo by gdouglastrahan 10/8/05.

Several relatives went to Johnson Bayou over this weekend to evaluate their homes and property.

There were three homes in JB they thought appeared to have some hope, all on stilts: Dwight & Judy Erbelding (memory: I remember when they started building that house and people gave Dwight a hard time because he put that house up so high... Hey Dwight - they aren't laughing anymore!), Peggy Trahan, and a newer house next to Travis Trahan's (Travis' used to be Francis and Rosalie Erbelding's). There was discussion perhaps brick homes could be salvaged... if everything was ripped out down to the bricks and rebuilt.

Some of the pictures I have in my head:

• The water went over my Aunt Elsie's kitchen counter, and everything is still wet. They drug her furniture out to inspect the floors, but they are made of a floor and subfloor, and feared beyond repair. Mold is growing on the studs inside the walls.
• My Uncle Billy's house is pretty much wrecked - held in place by the many trees that surround it.
• My Aunt Thelma's house looked better than the others, the west wall is gone, freezers overturned, water damage... doubtful the house is salvageable.
• My Great Grandmother Oreallye Griffith's boathouse turned land-lubber, is destroyed and in the marsh.
• Joseph and Amy Erbelding's old place is there - porch missing, roof fell in the back... no hope.
• Damage to the Baptist church and cemetery... already knew that but got additional news about more missing headstones....
  

My Aunt Kay who owns property in JB, but is no longer a resident, was able to get in to the parish when she explained her business. Rumor has it they'll let most people in on weekends but during the week it's harder because they're working on roads and electricity.

There are lots of electrical crews, they saw one fire hydrant spewing water near my Aunt Elsie's. No water service to the homes, for obvious reasons.

There are emergency personnel and and at least one ambulance in JB. They are giving Tetanus shots somewhere down there...

They described the landscape "burned". No leaves left on the trees. Everything once green is brown. You could see the inside of the school from the highway.... MyUncle Billy thinks it will be two years before the marsh is suitable for grazing.

After talking with my cousin, it appears what is desperately needed down there is some sort of construction professional who can advise if the homes that are standing are salvageable. I emailed Architecture for Humanity and America Continental 2000 to see if they could help provide one....

South Cameron Memorial Hospital Evacuees

For information on employees and patients evacuated from the South Cameron Memorial Hospital and Calcasieu Oaks Geriatric Psychiatric Hospital can be found at www.pacerhealth.com

Cameron evacuees allowed back in parish to assess damage (10/9)

By WARREN ARCENEAUX, AMERICAN PRESS.

Officials Scramble to Find Homes for Cameron Residents

See video about FEMA trailers for Cameron Parish. Be sure to turn off all 50o of your pop-up blockers or the link will only take you to the KPLC home page, where you click on "Officials Scramble to Find Homes for Cameron Residents" to see the video.

Entergy Grant

You must be an Entergy employee or customer who was displaced by either Hurricane Katrina or Hurricane Rita and who plans to return or relocate within Entergy's service territory.

I was under the impression Cameron Parish was serviced by Jeff Davis Coop, but I noticed Cameron Parish is on the Entergy list of eligible parishes. Read the guidelines, and if it fits, apply!

Reply from Phoenix Habitat for Humanity

Here is Habitat for Humanity's reply to my tempermental email:

Thank you for your communication and bringing to our attention that we were not mentioning Rita as much as Katrina - I think that this is an unfortunateresult of the simple fact that one came before the other and many mediaotlets started calling things "Katrina relief" before Rita even hit - Our solution from this point on will be to refer to assistnce for the "GulfRegion" victims which would enatil any and all affected by either or bothhurricanes. Kara ment no harm in her email and by no means was trying toleave out RITA victims in her communication - No matter what she writes all of the help will go to that region and we will not be asking the victims which hurricane they were a victim of - we will simply offer help to as manythat we can who qualify for assistance - I will share your thoughts with ourparent organiztion regarding their website - We do not have a web master atour small affiliate - we have a vista volunteer who does her best, without any background in websites, to keep the site updated.... your communication will help us adjust the words we use so that we are more accurate and thankyou for taking the time to let us know your thoughts and feelings.

Christine H. Odom President / CEO

Habitat for Humanity,

Valley of the SunP.O. Box 20186,

Phoenix AZ 85036

602.268.9022 60268.9206 (fax)

www.habitataz.org

And my reply:

Christine - thank you very much for your response and understanding. I will pass the word along to friends and family. Again, I'm sorry my tone was harsh... I know you are all (or at least most) volunteers. I appreciate all the work you have done and will continue to do to help people in need of housing, not just the ones affected by Rita or Katrina. I also appreciate your efforts to rephrase your future communications, and to clarify your position re: Katrina/Rita. I greatly appreciate your efforts in passing the information forward to the HfH international office.

Calcasieu coming together; Local hotline to help denied get FEMA aid (10/8)

Read the full article in the American Press.

"The situation in devastated Cameron Parish was far less encouraging. Entergy said power has been restored to 13 percent of customers in that parish. Cameron residents can enter the parish to examine their property today and Sunday from 6 a.m.-6 p.m. Residents are not allowed to stay and are encouraged to remain off the roads as much as possible to allow power companies to continue restoration work. "

"A local help line has been established for anyone in Calcasieu, Cameron or Jeff Davis parishes who has been denied the $2,000 in expedited assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. "

"The number is 721-3850. It will be staffed from 6 a.m.-10 p.m. "

You can get your well tested for free. See page A5 of the American Press, 1/8/05: Water Well Tests Offered.

The Louisiana Farm Bureau Insurance Company has set up a temporary office in Cameron, see bottom right column of page C3 in the American Press, 10/8/05.

Update about Cameron Parish Schools

Status of Local Newspapers: The Cameron Pilot

Honore takes tour of 'Rita parishes': info about cleanup

Read this from NOLA.com... features a conversation with Freddie Richard, Cameron Parish's Homeland Security director, and mentions a vague timeline for "look and leave" and cleanup.

Today's Update

Received an email from the Calcasieu area Habitat for Humanity, was told they'll let me know when their affiliate knows if they will be helping Rita victims in Cameron Parish.

Also received a peppy little recruiting email from my local Phoenix affiliate of Habitat for Humanity. The subject of the email was "Habitat for Humanity Valley of the Sun and Hurricane Katrina Relief Efforts!" and the body went something like this...

Greetings,

Habitat for Humanity Valley of the Sun will be launching it’s “Home in a Box Project” as part of Operation Home Delivery to help those affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. We estimate that 455,000 housing units in Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama will need to be replaced or rebuilt. Nearly 156,000 of those housing units were home to families with a household income of less than $20,000.

We would love for you to help us “pre-build” the frames of multiple homes here at our local office in Phoenix. The homes will then be palletized and sent to the Gulf Coast and New Orleans area for assembly by Habitat affiliates and volunteers in the region.

An exact date for our kickoff, which will be filmed by Channel 12, has not yet been set, but you will be the first to know once that date is determined. Our project will then continue ndefinitely, as long as we have the funding and the labor to proceed.

Please stand by for further update…and THANK YOU in advance for your willingness to help out with Hurricane Katrina Relief efforts.

Kara Schlosser

Volunteer Services Coordinator

Habitat for Humanity, Valley of the Sun

(602) 268-9022

kschlosser@habitataz.org

www.habitataz.org

No generation lives for itself alone,but tomorrow rests upon the shoulders of today,as today rests upon the shoulders of yesterday.~Sharlot M. Hall, Arizona's First Historian

I emailed back Ms. Schlosser, and my tone was probably a bit unfriendly, when I told her

"that is from my point of view... in extremely poor taste to 1) my inital inquiry to your organization 2) Rita victims and everyone trying to help Rita victims".

I went on to say

"I understand you are probably a volunteer for a charitable organization and what you do is probably out of the goodness of your heart and without pay. In return I ask you consider that I am part of a huge family, most without homes right now due to Rita, some displaced from Katrina, almost all of which are without the facilities and time to try to find charitable groups that will help them. That job has been left to me. And I am finding it VERY difficult to understand WHY organizations are rolling out the carpet to help Katrina victims and excluding Rita victims. I am also angered when I see Rita victims sloppily included in promotion and fundraising efforts (I'm sorry, but I put HfH in that category). Especially when a heck of a lot of Rita victims were first responders to Katrina, cooked Katrina evacuees meals, opened their churches and communities to Katrina victims, helped Katrina victims evacuate, and then lost everything.... just as Katrina victims lost everything.... and when they ask for help they are told "nope, you aren't from Katrina".

I am sorry my message to you carries the tone of anger. I am sorry you are the one to receive this message... I truly believe you are trying to help people. But I would also like a little bit of respect for those people, my family, who have lost everything because of Rita. I would like a clear message to them, and the public, that they are deserving of "Katrina consideration". I would like press releases to be thorough, and not refer to them like afterthoughts. I would like to feel assured that my money and time will GO TO RITA victims.... and the impression I get from HfH's website and your email leaves me doubting HfH help will reach them.

Thank you for your time, and again, I'm sorry you're the one who has to hear this.... I hope you pass it along to those who can affect change."

I know, not my friendliest or most constructive moment, but I finally just blew. Since HfH is saying they'll help Rita victims, I urge anyone who needs a home and think they meet HfH requirements (available on their site) to apply. I will wait a bit longer to give them my money, though... I'm still not sure.

Read Tom Hoefer's Calcasieu OEP update on a message board and found a few things that might apply to Cameron Parish....

• The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is asking residents in parishes where hurricane removal work is in progress, as assigned by FEMA and managed by the Corps of Engineers, to separate items to facilitate efficient removal. Debris should be placed curbside and separated into the following categories: 1. Metal 2. Vegetative (tree limbs, leaves, etc.) 3. Large appliances like refrigerators, stoves, air conditioners, etc.4. Construction and demolition debris (carpeting, roofing siding, etc.)
• The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has closed all waterways in Calcasieu and Cameron parishes to all vessel traffic other than approved commercial and emergency traffic.
• Salvation Army’s Canteen Locations today (10/6): Sulphur Kroger, Oakley Apts. On Hwy 90, Pin Oak Trailer Park. Iowa: Lawrence Toups Park. Singer: Singer Baptist Church. Starks: Starks Silver Dollar 109 River Rd. Vinton: Vinton Elementary Hackberry: Hackberry Community Center. Moss Bluff: Wal-Mart. Westlake: Community Center. Lake Charles: Family Dollar on 171, Martin Luther King Center, Wilshire Plaza on 5th Ave., LeBleu Chevron @ Hwy. 3059. Cameron Recreation Center. Johnson Bayou Roving, Holly Beach Roving. Welsh Southern BBQ.
• Residents will be given water, and ice. MREs are no longer available.
• Residents in need of food should seek Salvation Army and Red Cross locations.
• Residents with distressed vessels need to contact the Coast Guard before salvaging at 337-912-0074.

Update on Housing Recovery

My mother called Samaritan's Purse , 828-262-1980, to ask what they are doing to help Rita victims. They sent a group to the Christian Life Community Church, 1401 Merriman, Port Neches TX 77651. The person at the Samaritan's Purse headquarters said if someone would go talk to the people in Port Neches, perhaps they could help. There is no plan right now to send a group to Cameron Parish.

My mother also called Rebuilding Together in Calcasieu Parish, 318-625-4663, and the phone was not working.

Another promising organization is DERA, phone 970-532-3362 & fax 970-532-2979. My mother called and got a message telling her to send an email. We have not sent an email yet.

Until the Cameron Parish Police Jury announces final "look and leave" and cleanup dates for the parish, we are leery of pursuing these organizations further to ask for help. But anyone else is welcome to give it a whirl!

Cameron Parish Utilities

The old contact info/address/phone.

links for more information:

Jeff Davis Electric Coop
Centerpoint Energy
BellSouth
Cox Communications

American Press Coverage on Cameron Parish

Tues 10/4/05: See pages 1, 5 and 10 about the Police Jury decision to allow the Army Corps of Engineers to clean up Cameron Parish.
Wed 10/5/05: See pages 1 and 3 for articles featurning interviews with James and Wynette Erbelding of Johnson Bayou, and Carlyss Recovers from Rita for a conversation with Tommy Griffith and Robert Trahan of Johnson Bayou.

The Blanco Initiatives

Read NOLA.com's coverage on Blanco's initiatives for Katrina and Rita recovery.

Cemetery Damage

We found out from family members who have been in to Johnson Bayou that there is some damage to Head of the Hollow cemetery. We spoke with a very helpful lady at Hixson-Sulphur Funeral Home 337-625-9171, Natalie Fontenot, and she told us the Army is gathering up the washed-out caskets, and the Coroner will identify them. We believe this is the procedure for all washed-out cemeteries, not just Head of the Hollow.

The funeral home that managed your relative's funeral may be able to help identify the coffin from their records. A cousin called with news the coffins have already been removed to Lake Charles to the Coroner's office, and a phone number. We called 760-795-3309, Cameron Parish Coroner's Office, to speak with Dr. Sanders, the Coroner who will be identifying Cameron Parish caskets, and were told a hotline will be set up for families to call. I do not know where that number will be posted, and the nice lady said she would call us. The Cameron Parish Coroner's Office did confirm they are recovering caskets/remains and taking them to Lake Charles.

What is being said about Rita?

from The Chronicle of Philanthropy
from Wikipedia

Charities and Nonprofits Involved in the Rita Relief Effort

I have found a few groups specifically stating they are helping Rita victims (as well as Katrina). You can search Network for Good. Charity Navigator lists 4-star charities involved in the Rita relief effort. The American Institute of Philanthropy published this guide of the best twenty-three charities helping Katrina and Rita victims.

Contact Names, Numbers for Cameron Parish

Cameron Parish's official website.

From KPLC's site on 10/4:

"The Cameron Court of Clerks will be setting up an office in Jefferson Davis parish and should be up and running a few days. Those who need to get in contact with those office need to contact the Jefferson Davis Court of Clerks."

The number for the Jeff Davis Court of Clerks is 337-824-1160. The new numbers for the Cameron Court of Clerks will be 616-9666 and 616-9667.

Cameron Parish hotline from KPLC TV's site:

760-795-2920: didn't work 10/3; 10/4 rang for 2 minutes and no answer until it disconnected
760-795-2923: didn't work 10/3; 10/4 rang for 2 minutes and no answer until it disconnected

Wikipedia's info on Cameron Parish: good demographic and area information.

Cameron Parish Sheriff's Office: tried calling 10/4 and no answer, no recording. It is also the number for the prison.... I emailed Sheriff Duhon at his Yahoo! address and it bounced back to me.

SWLA 310info.org: 211, 310-info or 310-4636, or toll-free 1-866-310-4636, during business hours, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Not much on the website for Cameron Parish. I finally got through on 10/4 and the very nice operator said 1) they don't have any info on Cameron Parish 2) they don't know of any groups going down there to help people in Cameron Parish 3) normally they would refer questions to the Office of Emergency Preparedness in Cameron, but since the phone doesn't work she doesn't know where to send me 4) try back in a few days, maybe she'll have some information.

From KPLC TV's site: Cameron Parish Police Jury: Cameron Parish Police Jury employees should call 337-616-9666 or 337-616-9667 from 8 am to 6 pm everyday, or call 337-485-4695 after 6 p.m.

What is being said about Cameron Parish?

Here's what I've found so far.

CNN.com's coverage, MSNBC's Coverage, Fox's coverage, Shreveport: The Times, Lafayette: The Daily Advertiser, Lake Charles: American Press, KPLC TV, Houston: Houston Chronicle, New York: New York Times, Satellite Images: NOAA, Dallas: WFAA.com

Help with Housing Repairs and Building for Cameron Parish?

I decided to try to help the people of Cameron Parish (whether they want it or not...) because I have a lot of family there.

I decided to help from a distance because 1) I'm stuck in AZ 2) I don't have the proper ID to get in the parish and it's a long way to go to be turned away 3) I am guessing the kind of help I can provide (the kind that needs telephones and electricity) is the kind they are not able to provide for themselves right now... even if they had the before mentioned luxuries - because from what I gathered from brief phone conversations with my Cameron Parish relatives, they are a bit short on time to research available aid, since they're trying to salvage the life they had before Rita.

So... I started looking for charitable or government organizations to help them with what I think they'll need in the long and short run: housing. My first thought was Habitat for Humanity. They build houses for people that don't have them, and they have an NBC covered event at Rockefeller Plaza to build "houses in a box" for Katrina victims.

First thing I noticed on the HfH website was the absence of the name "Rita". I attempted to contact the affiliates of HfH near Cameron Parish... Beaumont, Orange, and Calcasieu and one email bounced back (Orange), haven't received an answer from Calcasieu (didn't expect one since there isn't any power), and a response from Beaumont stating

"I'm sorry, but we are in Beaumont, TX - another area that was hit by the hurricane. You will have to contact either a Louisiana affiliate, or better yet - www.habitat.org. Good luck. Beaumont HFH".

So I did as Beaumont suggested and called HfH's headquarters and spoke with a very nice lady on the helpline. She put me on hold and returned with the answer to "call back in about a month". When I asked if any money I raised for HfH would be directed towards providing housing for Rita victims in Cameron Parish... she said it would be applied to the local affiliate. When I reminded her Cameron Parish doesn't have an affiliate... she wasn't sure but thought it would be applied to HfH's general fund or the affiliate closest to Cameron Parish or overseeing efforts in Cameron Parish (I assume Calcasieu). I asked about their "Friends Helping Friends" program for Katrina and if it could be used to help Rita victims, and she *thought* the funds would go to aid both Katrina and Rita victims, but she wasn't sure. She also told me it would be a month before they could asses the area or even get started down there, so I gave up and agreed to call her back in a month.

I found another organizaiton - Rebuilding Together. At the top of their home page they only mention Katrina, but lower they mention RITA, give a link to volunteer AND a link to ask for help! I emailed the closest local affiliate, Christmas in April, Calcasieu Area, but don't expect a reply any time soon since they are located in Lake Charles.

The Enterprise Foundation is

"working with partners to help plan, finance and manage the construction of thousands of new homes for low-income Americans left homeless by the storm."

The storm, of course, is Katrina. So I emailed them and asked if Rita victims would be included. No reply yet.

Of course, there's our friend FEMA. They list some info about grants, etc. available to

"make damaged dwellings safe, sanitary and functional".