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.