Louisiana On My Mind

Rescued from Louisiana alligator

I usually do a quick recap of annual summer trip to Louisiana. We left sunny and hot Louisiana right before the nameless storm hit–and devastated Baton Rouge and its surrounding towns. I’ve been constantly checking in on friends and family.

For the past several years, we’ve sent the kids down to Baton Rouge to spend time with my parents and my mother-in-law. Baton Rouge is where my husband and I grew up. Our kids soak up the Louisiana sun (and humidity), spend time with both sides of our family, and eat really good food. They love it. Their aunt and grandparents love it.

Earlier this month, I flew down to spend time with my family and to bring the kids back to Maryland. We left 2 days before the relentless rain fell. If we had stayed any longer, we’d be stuck in Louisiana right now. My family and our friends are grateful that we flew out of Louisiana when we did.

My friends, family, and everyone living in southern Louisiana are not so lucky. Some have been displaced (and are safe) while friends of friends have lost everything.

Let me repeat that. They have lost everything.

Many of these residents do not have flood insurance because they do not live in flood zones. If you do not live in flood zones, you cannot obtain flood insurance. Most home and renters insurances do not cover damage due to flooding.

It’s been almost a week and the national news is only beginning to cover the flooding and loss in southern Louisiana.

If you haven’t seen the pictures, take a look. It looks like post-Hurricane Katrina again.

Please help by donating to the American Red Cross website or texting the word AFLOODS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. My friends tell me that they are on the ground, helping folks. But this kind of disaster won’t be fixed in a week or two weeks. It will take months of cleaning and rebuilding.

Keep Louisiana on your mind and help. For ways on how you can help, visit Baton Rouge Moms.