Feds assess area flood damage
FEMA to decide if parish qualifies for assistance
By Yuwa Vosper
yvosper@dailyworld.com
November 2, 2006

Photo by Melanie Lee Lisa Vidrine, center, and state officials with the Deptartment of Homeland Security, as well as FEMA officials, make their way around the parish assessing flood damage Tuesday. The team is pictured looking at a house on Wisdom Lane in Opelousas.

FEMA and Emergency Preparedness State Officials arrived yesterday to assess damages from the Oct. 27 flood that left two homes classified as major affected or severely damaged.

Lisa Vidrine, executive director of St. Landry Parish Homeland Security, said that once officials complete the assessment they would be able to determine whether the parish qualifies for assistance.

"They are still in the information gathering stage," she said. "They looked at several homes that sustained water damage, talked to residents, and even assessed damages inside of homes."  

Officials assessed 32 homes and plan to assess 160 more homes touring residences in Opelousas, Lewisburg, Lawtell, Grand Coteau and Sunset.

Melanie Lee, St. Landry Parish Public Information Officer, watched as officials determined the amount of damage on public and individual properties with the exception of damages to automobiles even though 25 cars sustained flood damage.

Lee said officials were looking specifically at structural damage. The reason is that flood policies for homes do not cover vehicles according to the homeowner insurance guide. It stated that auto insurance agencies cover flood damage to vehicles.

She explained that officials divided the evaluation as individual and public assessment. Public assessment is solely businesses, public structures, roads, and bridges. Some roads that were washed out include River Burch, Chevis, Shaw, Rodney, Begnaud and Little Teche.

"Only two businesses were assessed," Lee said, "but there was other flood damages in the area such as wash-outs and a bridge that actually shifted on Gallow Road."

Homes were labeled minor, affected or major. One home on Ashwood and another on Walnut were both determined as major damage.

Lee said parish offices had a little more than 200 calls overall about residential damages from last Friday to Monday morning.

Officials are still out assessing damage to the parish. State Homeland Security Official Bill Icenogle told Lee that 200 incidents were "quite a bit for the parish" to sustain so much damage.

But, officials reported that Calcasieu Parish sustained the most damages.

Vidrine realizes the parish got a lot of water in a short amount of time.

"Some parts of the parish received 12 inches of rain in a short amount of time which is going to cause some flooding anywhere," she said. "I understand many citizens are frustrated because it is a lot of work for them to repair and clean up their homes."

She wants to reassure residents that parish officials are doing their best to help them through the state and federal government.