Monroe News Star - Letter: Senator Proud of Storm Effort

Op-Ed

By David Vitter

Louisianians know better than anyone the challenges of rebuilding after a storm. Resiliency is in our bones.

A storm system including two tornadoes damaged more than 600 homes and 100 businesses throughout Ouachita Parish and cut off power for 69,000 citizens. The tornadoes outright destroyed 46 of those homes.

I toured the storm sites the day after these tornadoes hit, and it was clear that the damages were severe. The two tornadoes that hit the region covered a total area wider than five football fields.

Storms like this can destroy communities. But residents didn't put their heads down and sulk -- they got to work. Assistance and support have come from folks in every corner of the region, and even from across the state.

About 600 workers and first responders restored power to affected homes. Organizations and businesses like the Rotary Club, Red Cross, United Way, Home Depot and Disaster Aid USA brought in assistance to clean up supplies from across the state and helped remove debris from homes and streets. Local restaurants worked together to provide free food for victims. Local churches immediately organized cleanup crews and plenty of other help. And folks across the region donated canned goods to food shelters.

This is the community spirit I've seen time and again in Louisiana. Louisianians demonstrate an enduring resilience that extends to their friends and neighbors too. With the holiday season just around the corner, I'm reminded how thankful I am for folks across our state that can always be counted on to lend a helping hand.

Here in Louisiana, we've worked hard to prepare for anything that comes our way. But at the end of the day, I'm proud to represent a state that can always be counted on to come together in the wake of any storm.

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