Content Contributor: Sharysse Harris
Hurricane Laura swept across southwest Louisiana (one city specifically being Lake Charles) on August 22, 2020, leaving residents without power or water for a week straight. Authorities report that full restoration would take up to 1-2 months. The state’s power grid will even need a “complete rebuild” after weathering wind gusts up to 150 mph. Entergy Louisiana posted on Twitter, “The damage assessment process is now complete, with the hardest-hit areas of Lake Charles and Calcasieu and Cameron parishes having approximately 6,637 poles, 11,886 spans of wire and 2,926 transformers damaged. See our latest update http://enter.gy/6015GUL3U.” The human fatality rate is slowly rising with at least 24 hurricane-associated deaths.
Lake Charles, which has a predominantly black population, is being dismissed and not receiving the media coverage they need in order to gain assistance. Many residents feel as if they have to start from scratch, considering countless homes and buildings were brought to complete ruins.The city still has debris and trees blocking roadways, and many residents cannot find shelter and feel that they are seeing little to no progress since the hurricane hit.
In addition, residents are struggling to get funding from FEMA to repair their homes. This leaves them destitute, feeling like they are stuck and out of options. Relief and resources are not being evenly distributed throughout the city, as residents of predominantly black neighborhoods are receiving less donations from the city.
Trump visited the city and residents feel that his visit did not provide any help. Trump actually started to sign autographs on his visit to the city, so one could only imagine how ill feelings of resentment are building in the victims. This obviously is a big mockery to the serious situation that’s at hand. We need to do better as a nation to provide for those that are in need, regardless of race. As you can see, the towns that have a large black population are receiving minimal if any help or relief from the city.
We ask that you please keep those who have been impacted by Hurricane Laura in your thoughts and prayers.
