By Alexis Casnave, features Editor
Patience is key for thousands of Louisiana residents who have seen little progress more than a year after Ida’s destruction.
“I never thought that a year ago we would have started deconstructing our house and over a year later, they still haven’t paid us for living expenses,” says Valentine resident Lacey France.
Louisianians have received over $1.2 billion in financial assistance, yet thousands still are left without a proper home or any type of shelter at all.
Ida significantly damaged France’s home, including destroying her roof and mold growing throughout her house.When the time came for France and her family to rely on their insurance company, State National, it went bankrupt.
“All of a sudden, the [adjuster] stopped returning our phone calls,” France says. “He called my husband back at a later time and said, ‘I am not supposed to be talking to you, but the insurance company went under.’”
In the meantime, France and her husband had to continue to pay their insurance premium until eventually they were taken on by the Louisiana Insurance Guaranty Association. Unfortunately, there were multiple complications that prolonged the process of getting necessary finances for the fixing of their house. France’s roof was just fixed September 23, but their house is far from being done.
“We should not be in the house because we have a lot of mold,” says France. “In fact, I have a mushroom growing out the wall in the living room.”
France admits it is not an ideal environment but she and her family of five cannot imagine living comfortably in a camper for an extended period.
In addition to insurance issues, construction companies are experiencing issues that are prolonging the rebuilding process of Louisiana.
“Materials is one thing there is a shortage of because there’s so much need for it right now and also the lack of workers,” says project manager Neri Sanchez of Lift Construction.
Sanchez, who is from Orlando, Florida, works with an out-of-state construction company that has been working on various apartment complexes in the Houma-Thibodaux area since November of 2021. Sanchez has been understanding of the frustration and complaints of residents as they are still without a proper home.
“People have been inconvenienced so they want to get back to their normal lives which is understandable but we’re doing the best we can so it’s really coming down on us we get a lot of pressure from outside individuals,” says Sanchez.
Despite the hardships, Sanchez expects his projects to be finished by January 1, 2023. Unfortunately, thousands of residents like France cannot estimate when their homes will be back to normal.
“We’re not in an ideal situation but we’re lucky because we know way too many that don’t even have a house to live in.”
— Lacey France
Louisianans have received over $1.2 billion in financial assistance, according to FEMA, yet thousands still are left without a proper home or any type of shelter at all.
Ida significantly damaged France’s home, including destroying her roof and mold growing throughout her house.When the time came for France and her family to rely on their insurance company, State National, it went bankrupt.
“All of a sudden, the [adjuster] stopped returning our phone calls,” France says. “He called my husband back at a later time and said, ‘I am not supposed to be talking to you, but the insurance company went under.’”
In the meantime, France and her husband had to continue to pay their insurance premium until eventually they were taken on by the Louisiana Insurance Guaranty Association. Unfortunately, there were multiple complications that prolonged the process of getting necessary finances for the fixing of their house. France’s roof was just fixed September 23, but their house is far from being done.
“We should not be in the house because we have a lot of mold,” says France. “In fact, I have a mushroom growing out the wall in the living room.”
France admits it is not an ideal environment but she and her family of five cannot imagine living comfortably in a camper for an extended period.
In addition to insurance issues, construction companies are experiencing issues that are prolonging the rebuilding process of Louisiana.
“Materials is one thing there is a shortage of because there’s so much need for it right now and also the lack of workers,” says project manager Neri Sanchez of Lift Construction.
Sanchez, who is from Orlando, Florida, works with an out-of-state construction company that has been working on various apartment complexes in the Houma-Thibodaux area since November of 2021. Sanchez has been understanding of the frustration and complaints of residents as they are still without a proper home.
“People have been inconvenienced so they want to get back to their normal lives which is understandable but we’re doing the best we can so it’s really coming down on us we get a lot of pressure from outside individuals,” says Sanchez.
Despite the hardships, Sanchez expects his projects to be finished by January 1, 2023. Unfortunately, thousands of residents like France cannot estimate when their homes will be back to normal.
“We’re not in an ideal situation but we’re lucky because we know way too many that don’t even have a house to live in.”
