Aftermath Update 2: Misery and Desperation (Updated)

[Solly Mack]

139. Once the storm surge wasn't as bad as some seemed to be hoping, it became a non-story. So it seems.

Never mind the history making high winds Laura brought. Not thrilling enough. Well over a hundred miles inland and we still got hit with a category 2 Hurricane.

This area has a lot of logging and there are a lot of trees to cause damage. Trees that went into homes and businesses and took down power lines. Trees and power lines everywhere. Entire streets were every single power line pole snapped. 72 water service systems taken out across the storm's path. 72 either contaminated or destroyed.

The tree branch that landed on my fence didn't come from my oak tree after all. Came from a sweet gum and I don't have a sweet gum on the property.

Bel Edwards had to request that FEMA go from virtual centers of help to actual boots on the ground because that's all people got - go online, they said. Request help there.

With no electricity. Homes destroyed. Nothing open. Nothing left to open in a lot of cases.

People from the harder hit areas came here to shelter and got hit anyway. Some are stuck here since they can't go home. Hotels lost power and some of them have damaged generators. No backup.

On the plus said. Yesterday, local food places went mobile and gathered together in a vacant lot to set up food stands. Had to pay but you could also donate to cover the expense for others.

We got Jamaican food from the local owner/operator of an incredibly good Jamaican restaurant. Immigrants to America and now citizens. We donated for others and had our own first hot meal in days.

The word was out that the displaced - hate that term - could swing by and eat. That people could donate to help others get a hot meal. Seems a bit questionable of motive but after days of warm sandwiches of canned whatever and water, or the daily supper of red beans and rice at the shelters, hitting that vacant lot felt like a piece of normal. Almost. Not saying people weren't grateful for the shelters feeding those in need but a little normal can improve how you see things. It helps, is all.

Locally owned businesses serving pizza, burgers, Mexican, curry dishes and more. Course, like everything else now, had to stand in line.

Still, my curry vegetables stewed in coconut milk and served with rice was wonderful. Came with a side of steamed cabbage and I enjoyed every bite.