Hurricane Gustav update: Hardest-hit communities struggling to recover

Hurricane Gustav transfixed the nation earlier this week. We did not know where it would hit or how strong it would be. People still rebuilding their houses after the devastation of hurricanes Katrina and Rita wondered if they would lose everything again. Residents along the Gulf Coast left their homes, seeking refuge further inland, in shelters and hotels and with family and friends.

Gustav struck Terrabonne Parish in Southern Louisiana on Monday as a very strong category-two hurricane, damaging homes, roads, water and sewer services; and leveling power lines.

The worst hit areas are Lafourche, Terrabonne parishes where all electricity is down, much of the area's water supply has been contaminated, and sewage is not working. Estimates for when power will be restored range from one to six weeks, which means no operating gas pumps, cash registers, ATM machines, refrigeration, flush toilets or power tools. Downed trees have blocked roadways to rural areas, where the extent of the damage is still unknown.

Bayou Interfaith Shared Community Organizing (BISCO), UUSC's partner in Lafourche and Terrebonne Parishes, has been organizing communities in the Gulf Coast to prepare for disasters since Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. "We're lucky - nobody was hurt," said Sharon Gauthe, of BISCO, whose home was severely damaged by falling trees. "But there has been a lot of destruction. And we still don't know when we'll be able to go home. When we do, there will be a lot of work. Let's hope we have some time before the next storm."

In Plaquemines Parish, which was completely devastated by Hurricane Katrina, UUSC's partner Zion Travelers Cooperative Center reports downed power lines and considerable wind and rain. "But the houses we've been working so hard to rebuild are still standing," said Rev. Tyrone Edwards, of Zion Travelers. "When we do get electricity back this time, at least we'll have houses to have power in." Edwards and his community are eager to work on reversing wetland erosion, a critical step toward restoring the coastline and mitigating future storm surges.

Just above these southern parishes, the city of Baton Rouge sustained major wind and rain damage, and many buildings were affected.

UUSC is thankful that most people in the Gulf Coast are unharmed following Hurricane Gustav. We are concerned, however, about those who, three years later, are still struggling to recover from hurricanes Katrina and Rita - many of whom are members of low-income communities and communities of color. We recognize that the damage caused by Hurricane Gustav, and future storms, is an additional financial and emotional burden for Katrina and Rita survivors, which could quickly become a crisis.

UUSC is accepting donations to pass on to our partners, such as BISCO, who are helping communities hardest hit by Hurricane Gustav.

If you would like to donate, please click here.