The devastation is not over. The suffering is not over. Hurricane Laura may be gone, but the mess it left behindis everywhere. Lake Charles is still suffering and hurting. We appreciate the help, but there are many needs that are not being met.
The national media got the story that Hurricane Laura hit. They don't want to cover the story like they covered Hurricane Katrina because Lake Charles isn't New Orleans. It is just like when they didn't cover Hurricane Rita. Lake Charles is the home to many and is an extremely important city for the rest of the country. It is the fifth largest city in Louisiana and it has a major port where goods come in and go out.
For those who have a place where they can live, there is no electricity in the majority of places in Lake Charles. This means that it is very hot all of the time and that it is very dark when the sun sets. The reality for many people is that they are not truly living, but they are just making it. There are people who offer meals, but more needs to be done.
Disaster food stamps, which are supposed to be for anybody experiencing this disaster, are being given out depending on income, when many people cannot work and thus do not have any current income. They don't care, though. FEMA and insurance companies are telling people who have any type of structure standing that it is livible. It doesn't matter if there is a tree that has fallen down the center of the house and the roof and ceiling is completely exposed to the elements. It doesn't matter that air conditioning cannot be used when it is sweltering hot.
There are some people that can afford generators, but people are purposely inflating the price of gasoline because of this. There are quite a lot of places that are price gouging because people are desperate to get things and will pay because they need it, so these people are taking advantage of them.
There are people who serve food, but these places set up in one place and people have to go to those places. There are people in Lake Charles who are not able to leave to drive or even bike or walk to go get food. Instead, they are sitting inside and needing food.
Lake Charles needs help.
If you are wanting to actually go to Lake Charles to help and to help the citizens, there are things that are easy to find in other cities that can help these people. Please, do help them.
Here are some of the items that are needed:
- Battery operated personal fans and the batteries for them
- Battery operated flashlights and the batteries for them
- Carbon Monoxide monitors for those who are able to afford generators
- Meals delivered to those who are not able to go get meals at the stations where they are being served
- Diapers (infant through toddler sizes)
- Bug repellent spray
- Bottled water
Items are also needed for those who are working and helping in the area. Some of these things are:
- Tarps
- Rakes
- Axes
- Chainsaws
- Wheelbarrows
Of course, more items are needed. However, this is a list of some of the things, especially some things that people do not think about when going to help in Lake Charles. Then, yes, you can always help by donating money to reputable organizations. Please, do not donate to the Red Cross. The majority of money does not go to relief efforts and they do not direct donations to one certain cause, even if it is needed at the time.
Here are some reputable organizations for monitary donations:
