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.