Louisiana Hurricanes Laura & Delta Relief
September 2020 – December 2021
All Hands and Hearts (AHAH) worked in southwest Louisiana from September 2020 to December 2021, assisting families affected by Hurricane Laura and Hurricane Delta by felling hazard trees, debris removal, muck and guts, mold sanitation, roofing and ADA compliant ramps for homeowners.
Our Work
After over a year working in Southwest Louisiana, our program supporting communities affected by Hurricane Laura and Hurricane Delta came to an end in mid-December. On the heels of the storm, and with the assistance of partners including Crisis Cleanup and Catholic Charities, we identified Lake Charles and the surrounding areas as the communities in the greatest need. With the support of AmeriCorps NCCC members and the Veterans Community Group from Washington State, the initial team focused on response activities like hazard tree removal and roof tarping.
In December 2020, we wrapped up our chainsaw and roof tarping work and started a Resilient Roof Repair Program to help address some of the long-term recovery needs. The roofing component of our program ran through July completing 22 roofs. Due to the dangers of roofing during the summer in Louisiana, we ended our roofing program and in July 2021 our focus shifted to interior home repairs. Between July and December, the team installed siding, windows, flooring, doors, trim, and cabinetry to homes along with painting, mudding and sanding to complete nine interior home repairs as the program closed in mid-December 2021.
Disaster Profile
On August 27, 2020, Hurricane Laura pounded the Louisiana and Texas coasts, making landfall near Cameron, Louisiana as a Category 4 storm with 150 mph winds damaging over 90% of residential homes. Just six weeks later, on October 9, 2020, Hurricane Delta made landfall as a Category 2 hurricane in Creole, Louisiana. It followed a similar path to Hurricane Laura and compounded the damages already left by previous storms. Flood emergencies and wind damage were reported across large areas, and many communities have significant damage to their properties.
Community Spotlight
Our team was really pleased to be able to complete a new, resilient roof for Ms. Rosie’s home. Ms. Rosie was the president of the NAACP Lake Charles Chapter for 40 years, and she is an author who has written extensively about race and religion and how those intersect with her experience. Our team commented on what an incredibly kind person Ms. Rosie is, and they recently helped her move some of the belongings that were damaged or destroyed by the hurricanes out of her home.
The team also worked on Ms. Roxanne’s home. Her home was severely damaged by both Hurricane Laura and Delta, and she had been living without running water and a large hole where the kitchen used to be since the storm struck last year. The team was excited to complete the interior finishing and make the home safe and comfortable for Roxanne, her son, and two tiny dogs.
Program Work
Together with the help of our volunteers and partners, we are able to undertake work activities that will ensure community members are able to recover faster.
Base Work Base Work
Our bases are communal living spaces that we strive to make feel like home for each and every volunteer. Base work allows us to achieve this and also gives us the opportunity to leverage volunteer skills off the worksite, should they be willing and able to help with office work.
Base Work Base Work
Our bases are communal living spaces that we strive to make feel like home for each and every volunteer. Base work allows us to achieve this and also gives us the opportunity to leverage volunteer skills off the worksite, should they be willing and able to help with office work.
Debris Removal Debris Removal
Debris removal is classified as the removal of personal items, appliances, furniture or vegetation that were damaged or destroyed by the disaster and are found outside of the physical structure.
Debris Removal Debris Removal
Debris removal is classified as the removal of personal items, appliances, furniture or vegetation that were damaged or destroyed by the disaster and are found outside of the physical structure.
Home BuildsHome Builds
Home build programs aim to provide a safe living environment for homeowners that have been impacted by disaster. Our teams of staff and volunteers may undertake a series of activities which help to ensure homeowners are able to return to their residences as timeously as possible.
Home BuildsHome Builds
Home build programs aim to provide a safe living environment for homeowners that have been impacted by disaster. Our teams of staff and volunteers may undertake a series of activities which help to ensure homeowners are able to return to their residences as timeously as possible.
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