Hurricane Ida Causes Widespread Damage

Historic Hurricane Ida and its wind gust of more than 150 miles per hour created widespread damage throughout southeast Louisiana.

Homes were destroyed, trees toppled and roads blocked in many areas of the Diocese of Baton Rouge, mostly concentrated from Baton Rouge eastward, where the storm’s eye passed directly over Livingston and Tangipahoa civil parishes. 

“We have had a very hard week here in southeast Louisiana and it looks to be a long path to put our cities back together,” Bishop Michael G. Duca said in a statement released Aug. 28, when he issued a dispensation for Sunday Mass for Labor Day weekend. “Priests have been reporting in with the news of how you and our parishes weathered the storm. The northwest side of our diocese is coming back online with less damage while the southwestern and eastern portion of our territory has experienced serious damage.”

He noted that the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux and the Archdiocese of New Orleans received the worst of Ida’s wrath but said in the Diocese of Baton Rouge there are cities, churches and neighborhoods that have experienced flooding and may go weeks before power is restored. 

He asked parishioners to be patient with their pastors “as he tries to bring your parish back into working order.” 

Diocesan officials reported that at least 18 churches and schools received some damage but none appear to be catastrophic.

Many parishes, including St. Margaret Queen of Scotland in Albany, St. Helena Church in Amite, St. Jean Vianney Church and St. Pius Church, both in Baton Rouge, and many others reported tree damage. At St. Margaret, the tree damage was widespread, stretching to the back end of its property.

St. James Church in St. James reported some roof damage and water intrusion. 

Holy Ghost School and St. Thomas Aquinas High School, both in Hammond, and St. Peter Chanel School in Paulina took on some water.

However, two schools, Catholic of Pointe Coupee in New Roads and St John Interparochial School in Plaquemine reopened Sept. 1 and St. Jude the Apostle School in Baton Rouge also reopened during that week. 

But the damage among homes and businesses was far-reaching and tragic. Falling trees diced homes into sections, and Cardinal Newman Hall on the campus of Southeastern Louisiana University had its roof severely by a snapped tree.

Shortly after the storm passed, disaster relief teams of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Baton Rouge quickly responded, distributing items such as water, generators, cleaning supplies, tarps and meals to at least four churches, including St. Joseph Church in Paulina where 1,000 meals and non-perishable food items were distributed.

CCDBR case workers were onsite at all 12 of the shelters set up in the diocese distributing prescriptions, Bibles, durable medical equipment and activities for children. 

Nearly one-third of Ida’s shelter population live in several civil parishes in the  Diocese of Baton Rouge. CCDBR executive director David Aguillard said shelter residents are in need of money, generators, gas cards, Bibles, diapers, hygiene items, housing and tarps. 

CCDBR case workers are helping distribute gas cards and finding hotel rooms for those in need, while still fielding calls. 

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul housed three familes from Hotel Hope in New Orleans, which is a shelter mainly for women and children. The St. Vincent pharmacy also filled prescriptions for many residents, as several of chain pharmacies were closed.

“Ida caused heavy damage in the northeast United States,” Aguillard said. “As we’ve seen in the past when two areas are heavily hit, this causes competing disasters. 

“It is now more important than ever for neighbors to care for neighbors locally.”

Donations to help Ida victims  are being accepted at ccdiobr.org or svdpbr.org.