"Superhero Concert" (Gray)
April 6, 2010
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April 8, 2010
Violent winds, torrential downpours and towering waves are the key ingredients to some of the most deadly storms on earth: hurricanes.
Because of its geographic location near the Gulf of Mexico, south Louisiana is no stranger to the fierce forces that stretch across the region from the beginning of June, until the end of November.
In that six-month span, anything can happen.
For natives Mr. and Mrs. Percy Roussell, life was turned upside down just after Hurricane Katrina. Their home, which they had lived in for more than 20 years, was battered and beaten to near nonexistence. The roof was displaced and the foundation was crumbled.
It was the beginning to a series of hardships. And although the Roussells don’t offer an abundance of information on their struggles, as the afternoon sun bears down on their faces, evidence of the past can be found in their heavy stares.
If it weren’t for a local non-profit group, they probably wouldn’t have been standing outside their home like they were this past Tuesday during a house dedication ceremony.
The Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church Disaster Response and the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance group sponsored the event after completing a construction project that took more than five months.
“We came and assessed their home and it had hurricane damage,” recalled Stephanie Verdin, a volunteer coordinator for the Louisiana Conference of the UMC Disaster Response. “We received a grant to put a new roof on their house and then we came back to [take a look at the work].”
Because of the outstanding damage that had been done over the years, the project continued. It was unknown to volunteers how long it would take to complete their efforts, but willingness combined with big hearts allowed them to press forward.
After inspecting the roof, “…we found that the house needed to be weatherized,” said Verdin. “We were going to [install] windows and things like that, but when we came in, there was more extensive damage.”
A big problem had been discovered: termites.
The pests had turned the sturdy home into a nimble structure. “They were having a feast,” the Rev. Curtiss Eden, former pastor of Bayou Blue United Methodist Church, told a small crowd of onlookers during the ceremony.
From there, the undertaking became drastic, as a slew of volunteers and other local contributors worked feverishly to “gut” the house and restore its strength.
Donations from several local companies helped pave the way after the groups’ budget had expired. “We partnered with a lot of people and businesses that came forward to help,” explained Eden.
Passing the small home on a workday would have been a sight to behold, as hundreds of volunteers from all over the nation journeyed to Walnut Street to give the Roussells a safe place to live. If it weren’t for their efforts, the situation could have turned into one of life’s greatest travesties.
“We would probably be on the streets,” said Percy. “This means a lot. They did a good job.”
However, it wasn’t just one hurricane that made this nightmare a reality. Rita, Ike and Katrina all played a part in chipping away at the home, he said.
As friends and family gathered in the small lawn outside the residence, hymns seeped from the lips of several volunteers and organization leaders. The bad dream had finally come to an end.
While the couple has been married for 30 years, it’s the start of a new life.
Unfortunately, the Roussell project is the last in a pack of about 200.
The Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church Disaster Response receives its funding from donations and grant money, which has been soaked up. Now, the organization has nothing left to work with – meaning no salaries, or materials.
Officials said they are looking to work with other area groups on similar projects.
“Everybody has a heart,” said Lee Ray Nelton, pastor of Gods House of Refuge in Chauvin. “And there are still a lot of people that need help.”
With local governments across the state facing budget crunches, there’s not much that can be done to preserve the nonprofits, no matter how invaluable they are, he said.
Percy Roussell (right) holds a welcome mat during a house dedication ceremony last Thursday. His wife, Thelma, stands by his side. * Photo by MICHAEL DAVIS
