It has been one month since Hurricane Laura made landfall, bringing widespread destruction to southwest Louisiana. President of the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury Tony Guillory says most people have gotten electricity back, but the next big hurdle is getting people housed.
“Some people’s houses are totally destroyed. As we speak right now, FEMA is working on that, so that is going to be one of the next biggest issues,” said Guillory.
Hurricane Laura made landfall as a Category 4 storm around 1 a.m. on August 27.
Guillory says streets are cleared of debris, with much of it being pushed to roadsides. About 120 trucks are being utilized for debris pickup.
“They are rolling every day picking up debris. This is just the first run. They are going to come back around for another run so those that are still working to get their stuff out, they are still going to be coming back through again,” said Guillory.
Guillory says the blue roofs are now a normal site around the area, a constant reminder to locals of the damage done, long after the national spotlight has moved on.
“Every house has something wrong with it and every business has something. The one thing that’s asked when we go from day to day, is that people don’t forget about us. Normally after a storm, after two or three days, they forget about you,” said Guillory.