Southwestern Louisiana says good riddance to the worst hurricane season in recent memory.
Lake Charles and surrounding areas were hammered by Hurricane Laura in late August, and then by Hurricane Delta six weeks later. Mayor Nic Hunter said residents are still fighting to recover.
“There is still a lot of struggle, a lot of pain, and there is a lot of suffering for locals who are still without a home, still without a job, and picking up the pieces,” said Hunter.
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Laura was tied for the most powerful storm to make landfall in Louisiana in recorded history. It brought horrendous wind damage that stretched from Cameron Parish all the way into Monroe. Delta produced heavy floods due to rain.
Hunter said the good news is vital services have returned and local major employers and industries in the area are committed to staying.
“We are not a community that is going to receive a knockout punch by this year, we are a community and a people who are going to survive and bounce back,” said Hunter.
Hunter said they don’t quite have a timeline on when life will fully return to normal but it’s likely to at least take months as debris still lines the streets.
“That is not from a lack of effort, it is just due to the amount of debris and people are continuing to muck out and gut out their homes and businesses on a daily basis,” said Hunter.