Wiki_QA__##

This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong.
Title: A Tenacious Bunch

Original CoS Document (slug): [[https://conventionofstates.com/a-tenacious-bunch|a-tenacious-bunch]]

Login Required to view? No

Created: 2021-09-04 15:53:29

Updated: 2021-09-13 03:00:00

Published: 2021-09-06 00:00:00

Converted: 2025-04-14T21:13:04.175971101


----




An ad that has run on some Louisiana radio stations refers to Louisianans as “a tenacious bunch.”  Nowhere is that more evident than in the state’s response to the many hurricanes that hit the Louisiana coast.

The state is currently dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Ida, a Cat 4 hurricane, which made landfall Sunday, August 29 at Port Fourchon, Louisiana with maximum winds of 250 mph. August 29 was the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina which hit the state in 2005.

//{{https://content.conventionofstates.com/cosaction-prod/public/content/images/44509/44509_original.png?284x383}}       {{https://content.conventionofstates.com/cosaction-prod/public/content/images/44510/44510_original.png?279x379}}                                      District Captain Mike Sweeney's property//

Many Convention of States Volunteers live in the areas of the state affected by catastrophic winds, tidal surges, and heavy rainfall.

District Captain, Dale Prosperie, and his family rode out the storm in Houma, LA for seven hours with sustained 90 mph winds the first 5 hours followed by 120-135 mph winds for the next 2 hours. "It was the longest hurricane I’ve ever seen,” said Dale. He adds that as a result of the storm, 80% of the power grid is gone and will be a long time coming back.

Dale is in the process of trying to get supplies to his employees who didn’t fare as well as he did. He expressed appreciation of people checking in on him, a sentiment echoed by Lee, a COS Volunteer in Dale’s district who added, “Each day is a little better - still joyful and grateful.”

Volunteer, Debbie, from near-by Thibodaux related how she had evacuated, but her son had stayed during the storm. Debbie attributes his safety to the prayers she prayed for him and to the fact that “God led us to install new storm shutters and remove a huge oak tree in front of the house before the hurricane came.”

In Baton Rouge, District Captain, Cliff Ancelet provided shelter for his 88-year-old neighbor whose home was destroyed when a tree fell on it. “The Lord was with him,” said Ancelet, “because every room had limbs sticking through it except for his bedroom."

//{{https://content.conventionofstates.com/cosaction-prod/public/content/images/44511/44511_original.png?285x387}}     {{https://content.conventionofstates.com/cosaction-prod/public/content/images/44513/44513_original.png?294x387}}                                             District Captain Cliff Ancelet's neighbor's home//

Downed trees destroyed a number of Volunteers’ homes in Covington in the North Shore region of the state. Two COS Volunteers, Becky and Linda, commented on how community members came together to help them remove the trees from their homes and to clear driveways.

Covington Volunteer, Marcus Clavier, owns a beautiful retreat center, The Rivers Retreat, which he has always generously made available for COS events. Though the retreat center suffered damage from downed trees, Marcus wanted to make sure COS knew the facility will continue to be available when repairs are finished.

The North Shore area was also affected by widespread flooding. District Captain, Mike Sweeney, and his sons are busy getting mud out of Mike’s flooded home in Ponchatoula.  Mike stated that the area will have a great need for insulation and sheetrock to reconstruct homes and businesses.

Mike is no stranger to hurricanes. Sixteen years ago, he worked for the Emergency Operations Center in Mississippi providing food, water, ice, and human services to those affected by Hurricane Katrina.

Thibodaux Volunteer, Gina, has opened her damaged restaurant to serve meals to National Guardsmen while Covington Volunteer, Michael, has been cooking for the priests serving those in need in his parish.

Volunteers from the Baton Rouge area, Brian and Johnny, have made generators and air conditioners available to those in need.

COS District Captain, Don Maddox, and his wife, Janet, left their home in Shreveport to drive to South Louisiana to tarp the roof of someone in need and help with tree removal. The trip itself was a challenge because gasoline is extremely hard to find in the southern part of the state.

Last year, the southwestern part of the state was hit by two back-to-back hurricanes, Delta and Laura. According to District Captain, Neal Rider, rebuilding is complete on 80% of area homes, 60-70% of businesses, and 10% of outer structures such as barns and carports. Neal’s barn has not been rebuilt yet because metal is so difficult to obtain. Lafayette District Captain, EJ Miller, hopes to have his home finished by January and explains that skilled labor is hard to find.

These two DC’s, along with DC Steve Heath, offered words of encouragement to those affected by Hurricane Ida. Steve said that the storms in his area actually had a silver lining - people pulled together and a sense of camaraderie was built. Neal agreed saying, “It feels good helping someone else.” He suggested doing something to clean up each day.  EJ summarized by saying, “We’ve been through hurricanes before and will probably go through them again. We’ll come back better and stronger than before.”  

**Hurricane Ida Relief: **\\
\\
Please consider sending money donations to Samaritan's Purse U.S. Disaster Relief [[https://samaritanspurse.org/article/disaster-relief-trucks-ready-prayer-needed-as-hurricane-ida-slams-louisiana-2/?utm_source=Bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=m_YYHI-B21V&utm_content=hurr-ida-article&msclkid=8ceae57f8fe21016371d844821e1b406&utm_term=samaritan%27s%20purse%20disaster%20relief|samaritanspurse.org]] for Hurricane Ida victims.  \\
\\
**Louisiana: **\\
\\
To contact chainsaw teams and mud-out teams, go to: [[https://louisianabaptists.org/|louisianabaptists.org]]. Click on Need Help or Seek Assistance

**Feeding crew:**

Gonzales First Baptist Church\\
1217 S. Burnside Ave.\\
Gonzales, LA 70737\\
225-245-9900

{{https://content.conventionofstates.com/cosaction-prod/public/content/images/44514/44514_original.png?648x311}}

Celebration Church

\\
         2101 N. Causeway Blvd.\\
 \\
\\
         Mandeville, LA 70471\\
\\
         504-831-9673\\
\\
 \\
\\
Bethlehem Baptist Church\\
\\
         28350 S Montpelier Ave. \\
\\
         Albany, LA 70711\\
\\
         225-567-3666 \\
\\
 \\
\\
Grace Memorial Baptist Church\\
\\
          58516 Pearl Acres Rd. \\
\\
          Slidell, LA  70461\\
\\
          985-643-6017\\
\\
 \\
\\
Victory Baptist Church\\
\\
           43385 N Little Italy Rd. \\
\\
          Hammond, LA 70403-6409          \\
\\
          225-806-5051\\
\\
 \\
\\
New Zion Baptist Church\\
\\
           17387 New Zion Church Rd.\\
\\
          Covington, LA  70435\\
\\
          985-892-4711\\
\\
 \\
\\
Lighthouse Baptist Church\\
\\
            30997 Horseshoe Rd. N\\
\\
           Independence, LA \\
\\
          985-878-6895\\
\\
 \\
\\
Robert-Crossgate Church\\
\\
             22494 US-190 E\\
\\
            Robert, LA  70455\\
\\
            985-345-0827