The outpouring of assistance for the victims of Hurricane Harvey in our area has been overwhelming. All of those helping out and contributing remain in our thoughts and prayers.
Many, especially from outside the state and the region, have inquired about the extent of the damage in the Lake Charles area. I would hope to answer that question as best as I can in this update.
Sister Mary Vianney informs me that 450 residents have registered thus far for assistance in our immediate area (i.e. Lake Charles). Along the Sabine River, directly to our west and still in the Diocese of Lake Charles, approximately 200 households have reported water damage and are seeking assistance. The Southern Baptist Disaster group working in the Sabine River area said that there were many more flooded but who did not register because they were flooded last March and learned how to do “the mud outs” themselves. These residents may need help later with rebuilding costs. Reports from the west side of the Sabine River are dire.
There in communities like Orange, Vidor, Bridge City, Deweyville, and Rose City the area has been described as a “bomb zone.” Some of the smaller communities lost their infrastructure. They are unable to support themselves or set up distribution centers. The same group working in Vinton (Diocese of Lake Charles) is working in these areas west of the Sabine. One town lost its church and school. Catholic Charities is helping with regular shipments to the Vinton area of food, cleaning supplies, infant supplies, and whatever they ask for immediately. We are very fortunate at Catholic Charities in Lake Charles to have storage and warehouse facilities for supplies, along with the generous staff and numerous volunteers to sort and pack them.
I wish also to thank Archbishop Aymond of New Orleans and Bishop Muench of Baton Rouge for contacting us and offering assistance. Their concern and aid are greatly appreciated. We also wish to keep in our prayers and remember in our generosity our brothers and sisters to the east who were impacted by Hurricane Irma, including those in the Caribbean. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has already called for a special collection for them, as it did for the victims of Hurricane Harvey. The parishes of the Diocese of Lake Charles will very soon announce this special collection.
