New Orleans Adventure: Day 5

Hurray!! We finally got to work at the house that we have been waiting for. The Woman's name is Darlene and, while we haven't met her yet, we know a bit about her story. She lives in the upper 9th ward. The water came to about 12 inches into the house (the foundation was about 3 feet to the porch and floor level of the house,so it was up 4 feet in that neighborhood. The devastation of the storm was only the first part of her problems, though. She has been living with her sister all this time since the storm in 2005. There are 15 people living in that house. We don't know if she has children or not, so that is something we hope to find out tomorrow.

The second part of the troubles came when looters stripped the plumbing from the house for the copper. It amounts to another $6000 worth of damage. The insurance company has effectively declared the damage flood related, and so there was no payment with the exception of the looting damage which they will take care of.

The third insult on the top of the devastation is that Darlene paid a subcontractor to put in new windows of her house and begin some drywall work. This person did an incredibly shabby job. They left great gapping holes that allowed rain water to seep into the house. (You could put an entire fist through about 4 places. This person went ahead and did some dry wall work in that room which then became soaked with water and became moldy. Yuck. She has had a rough time of it.

Today we arrived at the house about 10:00. We had to get tools and equipment at the warehouse before arriving. We divided into crews. Bob, Bonnie, Kevin, and Carolyn began facing the foundation with plywood and putting kevlon along it all in preparation for the siding. Kathy W, Marjorie, Retha, Jackie and Kathi B. began mudding drywall, and Julio, JoAnn, Pat and I worked on the windows. We needed to take off the drywall in the front room (where the subcontractor had done such shabby work), remove the windows and frame them in correctly.

Those projects took all day. But what a difference it made. I have before and after photos so you will be able to see our hard work. It was more overcast today, so it was pretty comfortable to be working outside. We had to run to a Subway or Burger King to use the bathroom. So many houses here are vacant, and not a thing has been done since the storm. We were also instructed to be very careful of our tools. We were told that, without a doubt, people were watching us, and they would try the doors to see if they could help themselves. We locked things in a tool chest when we left and hid a generator so it wouldn't be readily found. People are desperate and in such a mind set any source of a leg up is taken. That means that crimes of property theft are rampant.

We also used our Lowes gift card today. It will take about $24,ooo to put this house together again. Darlene has about $6000 that she has put aside (not sure from where she got it--FEMA or other sources). The Presbyterian Church has approved her for a grant of $6000, and so our $1291 (and that of other people who come behind us) will hopefully fill in the gap. We purchased enough siding (hardyboard) to side the portion of the house that is yet in need. The front part will need to be painted to cover up the spray painted sign that was left after the storm. The point being that the greater need was to get the house habitable so the family could move back in. They will be able to resid the front portion later.

One last story I need to tell. At one point a black man stopped by and told us that people are telling that we had committed a crime. We were a bit taken aback, so he continued that it was being said that we were commiting acts of love! He assured us that we would be found guilty and convicted to life without parole. He was a local pastor. He then went on to quote us a poem he had written and gave us a copy that he signed to our church. The part that became a bit frustrating was when he just kept on talking and talking and the other gals left me to deal with him and they went back to work!!! Thanks a lot, Gals. Finally after about 15 or 20 minutes he left to lead a few of our girls to his church so they could use the facilities. It was an adventure, for sure.

Tonight it is raining a bit, so we are glad to be in a place with a solid roof. The time has passed so quickly. Only 2 ore days to get as much done as we can. We hope to meet Melissa Bonnett on Friday night and then we head for home on Saturday morning--5:00 AM.

Take care back there. We will be home soon with lots more to tell.

Blessings--Joyce