Thrive October 2020 Special Issue: Hurricane Laura Recovery; A Tribute to the Helpers & Heroes by Thrive Magazine

October 2020

Hurricane

L au r a

Recovery a Tribute to the Helpers &Heroes

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Others who can benefit from inpatient rehabilitation are postoperative patients, accident victims and cancer patients. 24 Hour Nursing Care • Physical Therapy • Occupational Therapy Speech Therapy • Nutritional Counseling and Monitoring Case Management Call for a free assessment today. One Hospital Drive, Ste. 101 • Jennings, LA 70546 • Phone: (337) 821-5353 • Fax: (337) 821-5355 or 5366 jenningsrehab@yahoo.com • www.jenningsrehab.com 2

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Safe. Open. Here for You. Since 1952, through pandemics and storms, your community healthcare system has been here. As southwest Louisianaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only trauma center, our care continued during Hurricane Laura. And while we sustained a few bruises, like you, we are not broken. Thanks to Memorialâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dedicated team working tirelessly around the clock, our services and physicians are ready to deliver the quality healthcare you rely on. Our community is resilient and we will recover. Rest assured, through this journey, Memorial is safe, open and here for you. Because, at Memorial, your healthcare is personal.

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Contents HURRICANE LAURA RECOVERY A TRIBUTE TO THE HELPERS AND HEROES 8 Aid Organizations Strive to Meet Basic Needs of the Community 12 United Way of Southwest Louisiana 13 Minuteman Disaster Response Team Continues to Assist 14 Community Foundation Raises Millions for Storm Relief 16 Federal Assistance to the Rescue 20 Church Groups Serve as the Hands and Feet of Christ 22 Heeding the Calls: CPSO 911 Dispatchers Weather the Storm to Assist the Community 24 Bringing the Spark Back to SWLA: Local Energy Companies and Linemen from across the Country Converge to Restore Power 28 Kudos and Appreciation to Local Leadership 30 Going Above and Beyond the Business Model: Local Entrepreneurs Assist in the Recovery Efforts 34 Business Recovery Center Opens at the SEED Center 36 SWLA Center for Health Services Caring Beyond Healthcare 38 Community Coffee Serves up a Cup of Comfort for Lake Charles Residents 39 Boyd Gaming, Delta Downs Contributed $250,000 to Local Relief Efforts 40 Hurricane Laura: By the Numbers

11 24

42-45 BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU

40 Protect Yourself from Storm Chasers after a Natural Disaster 41-47 Better Business Bureau Listings 48 Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Louisiana Fundraiser 52 CHRISTUS St. Patrick Former Employee Sparks GoFundMe Campaign 54 WCCH Stays Open through the Storm 56 Lake Charles Memorial Hospital Resumes Services 58 Pet Organizations to the Rescue 60 Caring Through Hurricane Laura: A Home Instead Hero Story 61 Former Cowboy Golfer Raises Money at U.S. Open 64 Preserving History through Photography: A Stalwart Oak Still Standing 68 Together We Stand: L'Auberge features Jeremy Price of Price Art Studio 69 Many Hands Make Light Work: DeQuincy, Louisiana Mural by Danny Allain 70 Solutions

THIS SPECIAL ISSUE IS SPONSORED BY BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU

@thriveswla | thriveswla.com Thrive is designed for people focused on living a happy, healthy life, one that is balanced, full of energy and contentment. Thrive readers want to make the most of every day and to be successful in all areas of their lives â&#x20AC;&#x201C; family, health, home and career. Submitted articles and photos are welcome. Thrive assumes no responsibility for unsolicited materials and does not guarantee any submissions. 4

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58 Managing Editor

Angie Kay Dilmore

Editors and Publishers

Kristy Como Armand Christine Fisher

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Design and Layout

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Hurricane

L au r a

Recovery a Tribute to the Helpers & Heroes

Thrive Magazine for Better Living â&#x20AC;˘ October 2020

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Cajun Navy clears a yard.

Salvation Army serves storm victims.

Fred Rogers, of Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood fame, is well-known for quoting his mother during times of disaster. She would say, “Look for the helpers.” In the aftermath of Hurricane Laura – a catastrophic category 4.9 storm that made landfall over Cameron Parish, crushed Lake Charles and the surrounding parishes, and barreled north to Shreveport and points beyond on August 27, 2020 – Southwest Louisianans didn’t have to look far to find the helpers. Within days after the storm, linemen, roofers, tree and debris removers, church groups, and aid organizations of every sort armed with food, supplies, and manpower swooped into the Lake Area and got to work serving storm-stricken residents on their road to recovery. In addition to outside aid, locals, too, rolled up their sleeves and assisted the needy in our community, often before attending to their own property details. Please note, these pages are only a brief illustration of the goodness exhibited in our community, featuring only a small fraction of the hard work and kindness that’s been on display the past month or more. This special issue is dedicated to ALL the helpers and heroes of Hurricane Laura recovery; those neighbors helping neighbors, strangers helping strangers, and to the dogged determination and resilience of the people who call Southwest Louisiana home. National Guardsman directs traffic near Capital One Building; photo by Chad Moreno, Killer Photography

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HURRICANE LAURA RECOVERY

Ai d Organizations A TRIBUTE TO THE HELPERS AND HEROES

STRIVE TO MEET BASIC NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY by Angie Kay Dilmore

Thrive Magazine for Better Living • October 2020

Despite the devastation and loss, when you ask someone in Southwest Louisiana how they are feeling, they’ll likely say they are grateful. High on their gratitude list are the thousands of aid workers, either local or from out of town, who have stepped up and given their time, effort, and resources to help the victims of Hurricane Laura. To the following small sample of organizations and ALL the groups who came to our rescue, Southwest Louisiana thanks you!

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Salvation Army Salvation Army set up canteens, grocery giveaways, and meal stations at dozens of locations across the region. As natural disasters can increase mental stress, the Salvation Army’s Emotional & Spiritual Care HOPEline remains available. Anyone needing a caring listener – whether due to natural disaster, COVID-19, or the stress of life in general – can call 844-458-HOPE (4673) for support from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. CDT daily. To make a donation, www.helpsalvationarmy.org

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Salvation Army

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HURRICANE LAURA RECOVERY A TRIBUTE TO THE HELPERS AND HEROES Cajun Navy at work.

Cajun Navy The Cajun Navy is a disaster rescue, recovery, and rebuild organization. They had boots on the ground in Southwest Louisiana mere hours after Hurricane Laura bulldozed through the region. They served thousands of meals, cleared debris, cut trees, tarped roofs, distributed five-gallon gas cans full of gasoline, and generally anything someone needed help with. The group was founded by Lake Charles native Rob Gaudet in 2016. To donate, go to cajunrelief.org or find them on Facebook.

Cajun Navy at work.

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American Red Cross

American Red Cross The American Red Cross (ARC) provided meals at nine locations. They assisted people with shelters and hotel rooms during evacuation as people transitioned from emergency response to recovery efforts and offered health services. Volunteers navigated the debris-ridden streets and distributed clean-up kits, snacks, food, and cases of water. ARC initiated a program to help residents whose homes were destroyed or hit with major damage from Hurricane Laura. The program will give $450 to each qualified homeowner to replace items or pay transportation costs. For a full list of locations and other information on services, visit @ARCLouisiana on Twitter or at Facebook. com/ARCLouisiana or call 1-800-RED-CROSS.

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HURRICANE LAURA RECOVERY A TRIBUTE TO THE HELPERS AND HEROES United Way

Denise Durel gets the word out on the plight of SWLA

United Way of Southwest Louisiana

by Angie Kay Dilmore

Hurricane Laura had barely made its way to Shreveport before Denise Durel and her team at the United Way of Southwest Louisiana hurried to organize a grocery giveaway at the Lake Charles Civic Center. This was but a first step in their quick actions to meet the needs of dazed storm victims. Joined by the United Cajun Navy, they set up a Hurricane Laura Relief Center – a warehouse for supplies and food distribution on 6th St., Lake Charles. They’ve been serving people in about 3,000 vehicles a day at the Relief center with hot meals for their family and basic necessities. Residents and other organizations such as St. Nicholas Center for Children showed up to volunteer in the United Way’s efforts. Durel, president and CEO of United Way of SWLA, and her band of volunteers traveled around the region to locations like Grand Lake and Johnson’s Bayou, giving away groceries and partnering with churches and other organizations for hot meals. By joining with Second Harvest Food Bank, the City of Lake Charles, the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Department, CenterPoint Energy, and the Houston Humane Society, they provided 80,000 pounds of food to hundreds of people and their pets in one day alone. While the United Way assisted the community, donors from several businesses rallied behind their efforts with generous contributions. Lake Charles native Michael Krajicek, who now lives in Austin, Tx., started a GoFundMe account to benefit his hometown by running an unbelievable 50 miles to raise over $5000 and bring awareness to the devastation in Southwest Louisiana. To connect with resources for help, including places to donate items, a list of open pharmacies, Urgent Care facilities, and more, call United Way’s help line, 211. To volunteer or to donate, see their website, unitedwayswla.org.

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MINUTEMAN DISASTER RESPONSE TEAM

ASSISTED RESIDENTS OF SWLA AMIDST WIDESPREAD DEVESTATION

“MDR is doing everything in our power to assist the homeowners to get their lives back and homes cleaned up,” said Namey. “Most importantly we are showing people that there is hope and that someone is there to help them in the aftermath of this tragic storm.”

Minuteman Disaster Response (MDR) is a firstresponder support team comprised of well-trained volunteers. Before disaster strikes, they forecast storms and prepare teams for deployment. When the call comes to serve, their goal is to provide significant aid to disaster victims and emergency personnel. Their volunteers are trained in all areas of disaster relief, including debris cleanup, resource management, search & rescue, first aid, emergency communications and command structure. This organization from McKinney, Tx. established a Base Camp consisting of a selfsufficient Incident Command Post, Shower Restroom Unit, Mobile Sleeping Unit, and Relief Supply Trailer in Moss Bluff, La. With more 70 volunteers from Texas and Oklahoma, they spent nearly a month in Southwest Louisiana and assisted 54 homeowners with the cleanup of the devastation left by Hurricane Laura, resulting in a financial impact of $116,358. Mark Namey, an MDR volunteer since 2017 said, “It was the most widespread damage I could possibly imagine. The shear amount of destruction to property and environment will take years to recover from. From fallen trees and destroyed homes and businesses to complete loss of infrastructure … the devastation was complete.” The experienced and trained cleanup team spent much time utilizing their chainsaws and heavy equipment to clear debris and trees up to 30 inches in diameter from roads and yards for people to gain access to their homes. In addition to the extensive training the volunteers received regarding safety during clean-up projects, they were also instructed to follow social distancing standards. Masks and hand sanitizers were provided. Even the sleeping unit was being limited to 50% capacity to allow for Social Distancing Standards.

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HURRICANE LAURA RECOVERY A TRIBUTE TO THE HELPERS AND HEROES

Community Foundation

A L W S f oRAISES MILLIONS FOR STORM RELIEF

Community foundations are quick to respond to disasters, and they know the community well. Before Hurricane Laura struck our region, the Community Foundation of Southwest Louisiana activated its Hurricane Relief and Recovery Fund.

Based in Lake Charles, the Community Foundation of SWLA tapped its network of affiliated foundations in Baton Rouge and Covington to help seek donations from around the world. In less than two weeks, more than $5 million was raised for relief operations. These generous gifts were given by both corporate donors and individual citizens. Staffs of the foundations made sure the gifts were entrusted to organizations providing relief services for people in need. Members of all affiliated foundations canvassed areas that were in the path of Laura’s devastation, talking to local leaders, and gathered an understanding of the immediate needs. The first grants were approved and released a week after Laura swept through the region. The money paid first-responding nonprofits to feed and shelter people and provide tools for cleaning up in the aftermath. Shrimp boats from Cameron Parish were salvaged with one grant, while another underwrote support for evacuees living in hotels in Baton Rouge and New Orleans provided by United Ways in those cities. “Our community foundation connects people who care with causes that matter,” said Sara Judson, CEO of the Community Foundation. “The incredible outpouring of support from individuals, families and companies affirms how much people care about helping others in need. People from around the world have donated what is meaningful to them, from $1 contributions to $1 million each from the Walmart Foundation and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundation, and everything in between. It supports nonprofits who are directly helping people in the hardest-hit areas of Louisiana.” The connections made by the Community Foundation of Southwest Louisiana continue to provide relief for those in need after Hurricane Laura. Donations are steadily being made, affirming the philanthropic trait in a caring citizen. “Everyone is passionate about something,” said Willie Mount, former mayor of Lake Charles and Foundation board member. The community of SWLA is passionate about its strength and resilience in this time, and the Foundation is here to support and amplify those traits.

Catholic Charities of SWLA opened their doors to the community the day after Hurricane Laura struck. They delivered pallets of necessities and assisted residents whose homes suffered damage in receiving hotel vouchers. Catholic Charities of SWLA is recipient of a Grant made from the Hurricane Laura Relief and Recovery Fund.

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For more information or to make a donation, see their website, www.foundationswla.org. Two shrimpers in Cameron Parish continue to work despite the severe damage done to most of their boats. A Grant was made to assist in salvaging the numerous damaged shrimp boats in the area.

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HURRICANE LAURA RECOVERY A TRIBUTE TO THE HELPERS AND HEROES

Federal

Assistance TO THE RESCUE

SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA WAS DECLARED A STATE OF EMERGENCY, WHICH OPENED FEDERAL ASSISTANCE TO THE REGION. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers manages Operation Blue Roof. The purpose of this program is to provide homeowners in disaster areas with fiber-reinforced sheeting to cover their damaged roofs until arrangements can be made for permanent repairs. In the wake of Hurricane Laura, they provided and installed 4058 tarps and counting on area homes free of charge. The Louisiana National Guard has been widely visible around Southwest Louisiana doing a lot of everything. Between Cameron and Shreveport, they came with 27 helicopters, 236 high-water trucks, and 76 boats.

In the hours immediately after the storm, they got to work clearing roads and directing traffic. They conducted health and welfare checks, provided free tetanus shots and COVID-19 testing, worked security, helped evacuate people and pets, and passed out MREs, water, and supplies at several locations throughout the region. The Guard cleared debris from over 1,700 miles of roads and 210 municipal facilities during the recovery efforts across the state, as well as the campus of McNeese State University. FEMA is a community fixture after any natural disaster. To register for FEMA federal disaster assistance, call 1-800621-3362 or register online at disasterassistance.gov. The deadline to apply is Oct. 27. Over 81,700 residents have registered for disaster assistance and over 148 million dollars has been approved as of 9/30/2020. For some common reasons why you may have been denied by FEMA and some tips to get you back on track or if you have questions, visit https://www.calcasieuparish.gov/Home/ ShowDocument?id=9827. FEMA has released guidance on chainsaw and generator reimbursement. Visit this link for that information: www. calcasieuparish.gov/Home/ShowDocument?id=9833. You can download your receipts to the FEMA app. Visit www.fema.gov/disaster/4559 for info.

National Guardsmen meet with McNeese president Dr. Daryl Burckel

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HURRICANE LAURA RECOVERY A TRIBUTE TO THE HELPERS AND HEROES

Church

Groups

SERVE AS THE HANDS AND FEET OF CHRIST Residents can always count on communities of faith to step up and assist in a time of need. During the aftermath of Hurricane Laura, countless places of worship, all worthy and too numerous to mention each one, opened their parking lots and gymnasiums, and passed out hot meals, water, bags of ice, and cleaning supplies, often praying with and for the people they served. Trinity Baptist Church, blessed with an enormous parking lot, hosted the American Red Cross and SBC Food and Disaster Relief Teams with a well-organized system and prepared 20,000 meals a day on-site; 6000 were served at the church and 14000 were delivered to other relief sites. With no electrical power for the church buildings, giant generators were brought on large tractor trailer trucks and lifted by cranes into the parking lot. The rear parking lots of the church were used for temporary sleeping quarters, command vehicles and patrol cars for over 300 law enforcement officers. Some churches used their parking areas to host national relief agencies. Greater St. Mary Missionary Baptist Church also hosted the American Red Cross and other agencies that provided food, water, cleaning supplies. Sale St. Baptist Church hosted Samaritan’s

Thrive Magazine for Better Living • October 2020

Purse. While power was out at the church, they held church services at Paul’s Rib Shack on their outdoor patio area. Maplewood First Baptist Church distributed supplies and meals throughout the month and hosted visiting relief organizations such as Southern Baptist Convention Disaster Relief and a group from Central Louisiana called Shepherd’s Pie, who were also impacted by Hurricane Laura. St. Luke-Simpson United Methodist Church sent volunteers to Pineville for Emergency Response Training, and then set to work helping the community in recovery efforts. Earlier in the recovery, they hosted a supply drive-through with food, water, hygiene supplies, clothes, plastic bins, tarps, and more, plus a jambalaya lunch. Water’s Edge Gathering served hamburgers and hot dogs, gave away non-perishable food, gas cans, tents, tarps, water, sports drinks, hygiene, baby products, batteries, ice chests, bug spray, sunscreen, and formed a team for basic yard and property cleanup.

by Angie Kay Dilmore

Despite their church building being utterly destroyed, Living Way Pentecostal Church opened their parking lot to hand out water to a thirsty community. Many residents initially had no running water and those who did were under a boil advisory. Living Way also served thousands of hot lunches to the community. Over in Sulphur, Jennie Finch, Olympic softball gold medalist and community organizer, raised $100,000 for Sulphur’s Community Christian Coalition. In addition to local church efforts, numerous churches arrived with aid from out of state. Aaron Seay is the Coordinator of Youth Ministry at Presbytery of New Covenant in Texas and a member of First Presbyterian Church of Sugar Land. A Moss Bluff native, he and his parents and a friend rounded up supplies and drove east to help the people of Southwest Louisiana. They set up a tent in the BBQ West parking lot and passed out bleach, paper towels, garbage bags, toiletries, and PB&J sandwich fixin’s.

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Catholic Charities

Lord teach me to be generous: teach me to serve you as you deserve. -Saint Ignatius Loyola

“Having grown up in Lake Charles, I was heartbroken to see all the destruction, but was also amazed at how many cars I saw from out of state, filled with people who came to help,” he said. Aaron is the son of Fred Seay, who

Aaron Seay (on R), Pastor Fred Seay and wife Ruth (center), from First Presbyterian Church of Sugar Land, Aaron's dog Easton, and a friend (on L)

LLAKE CHARLES L C AKE HARLES LAKE AKE CCHARLES HARLES

served as pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Lake Charles from 2004 – 2011. Catholic Charities of SWLA was ready to help the public the day after the storm. Their response has evolved from immediate response to long term rebuilding. Initially, they assisted 80 evacuated families with hotel vouchers. They sent 420 pallets of supplies to 25 different distribution sites and operated a food bank from their warehouse. Donations to the organization help the poor with food, housing, and other basic needs.

STRONG! STRONG! STRONG! STRONG! STRONG! LAKE CHARLES

We WILL recover and THRIVE because this is our HOME! We WILL recover and THRIVE because this is our HOME!

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Wills ●Trusts ● Successions ●P Power of IAttorney Business Consultation ● General ERSONALCounsel NJURY __________________________ Business Consultation ● General Counsel Serious Personal Injury ● Death Cases Set-Up & Incorporation B USINESS S ERVICES A ND Chemical Exposure ● Automobile Accidents MARSHALL J. SIMIEN, JR. Set-Up & Incorporation Marshall@Simienlaw.com A Professional Law Corporation _____________________________________ CORPORATE LITIGATION MARSHALL J. SIMIEN, JR. Marshall@Simienlaw.com

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HURRICANE LAURA RECOVERY A TRIBUTE TO THE HELPERS AND HEROES

Heeding the Calls CPSO 911 DISPATCHERS WEATHER THE STORM TO ASSIST THE COMMUNITY by Angie Kay Dilmore

On the night of August 26, ten 911 dispatch operators sat at their desks at the Communications Dispatch Center at the Sheriff’s Office, answering backto-back calls from the citizens who chose not to evacuate, and uncertain of what the storm might bring. Another seven were housed nearby, awaiting their shift the next day. Of course, for most of the night, all the operators could do was console callers who were desperate for help. The severe weather conditions prohibited officers from being deployed.

“These CPSO dispatchers are one of a kind,” Sheriff Tony Mancuso said. “They are passionate about our community and take their jobs seriously. Not being able to help those in need while Hurricane Laura was causing havoc in our hometown was heart wrenching for them.” Plant says she is proud of her team of dispatchers. “Many of us lost our houses, were unable to see family for weeks, but rarely did you hear anyone complain. I am also proud of the girls who attempted to ‘sleep’ that night so they could work the next day shift. The minute the roof was coming off, they jumped up and helped those in need without a question asked. As a team, a family, we are all supportive of one another.”

Around 2:00 a.m., Crystal Plant, team leader for the A shift dispatch, and her co-workers heard a horrendous noise. The roof of the Dispatch Center was peeling off and rain began pouring in through the ceiling. The dispatchers briefly put the calls on hold, moved all the equipment they could to a dry location, and set up in a temporary dispatch center. “Once we heard the roof coming up, the adrenaline kicked into high gear and it was all hands on deck,” Plant said. 22

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HURRICANE LAURA RECOVERY A TRIBUTE TO THE HELPERS AND HEROES

k r a p S e h t g n i g n i r B Back to SWLA LOCAL ENERGY COMPANIES AND LINEMEN FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY CONVERGE TO RESTORE POWER by Angie Kay Dilmore and Kristy Como Armand

Fire department and utility trucks in Lake Charles, LA

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Linemen and United Way

According to Entergy, the fury known as Hurricane Laura damaged 12,400 distribution poles, busted 3,400 transformers, and downed 770 miles of distribution wire across Louisiana. The words repair and restore were understatements of the enormity of the situation – our electrical grid’s infrastructure needed to be rebuilt. In the immediate wake of the storm, due to the extreme devastation, Entergy estimated it would require four to six weeks for power to be resumed in the region. But thanks to the dedication of Entergy Louisiana’s 16,000-member storm team made up of workers from roughly 30 states who interrupted their own lives to come help us, as well as the mighty efforts of Beauregard Electric employees, that estimate was cut in half for many in Southwest Louisiana. Unaccustomed to our heat, humidity, and fire ants, the out-of-state linemen worked in shifts around the clock, daily traveling to and from Southwest Louisiana from hotels in places like Beaumont and Lafayette. Local residents respectfully gave these workers their space, bypassing roads they were working on and limiting conversation to heartfelt “Thank yous” as they drove past. No one wanted to slow these workers down! But for those who did have meaningful encounters with these out of state workers, they heard some interesting and telling comments. For most of these linemen, collectively recognized as “heroes” and “angels” to the SWLA community, Hurricane Laura was hardly their first relief effort. Many had worked in several storm-ravaged regions over the years. Seemingly unanimously, they all said Hurricane Laura inflicted the worst devastation they had ever witnessed. They also noted how impressed they were by the kindness and gratitude they experienced from the community. One of the first areas in Southwest Louisiana to have power restored was Vinton, La. After the workers completed the lines and necessary connections and the lights were turned back on, the citizens lined the streets and applauded the workers as they drove out of town. Some linemen said they’d never seen anything like that.

bbb.org | 337.478.6253

#SWLASTRONG

Our linemen and employees truly appreciate all of the support and love from our community.

DERIDDER

Main Office 1010 East First Street DeRidder, LA 70634 Toll Free: 800.367.0275 Phone: 337.463.6221

MOSS BLUFF

Branch Office 975 North Perkins Ferry Road Lake Charles, LA 70611 Ph: 337.855.6684

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HURRICANE LAURA RECOVERY A TRIBUTE TO THE HELPERS AND HEROES

ging the Spark rin B Back to SWLA continued... Lineworkers from the Florida Power & Light Company were so distressed by what they saw in Southwest Louisiana after beginning work on the damaged power lines, they called their corporate office, saying this was the worst storm damage they’d ever seen. These lineworkers passed the hat and donated $4,870 of their own money to United Way of Southwest Louisiana’s Hurricane Laura Relief Fund. Many of the lineman working in our area say they have never experienced the type of genuine hospitality they felt here. Cheryl Bertrand of Lake Charles "adopted" the crew of eight linemen working in her neighborhood, bringing them home-cooked meals and making sure they knew they were appreciated. They texted her their progress updates and when they moved on from her area to Iowa, she recruited friends there to continue feeding them. When they left Southwest Louisiana to return to their homes in other parts of the country, these workers sent Bertrand a handwritten letter and $100 to express their appreciation for her kindness. She passed their donation along to the parent of a child who had lost all their toys in the storm. Lineman give the gift that keeps on giving.

bent but

Not Broken

CFO 1/4h

SWLA 26

Thrive Magazine for Better Living • October 2020

A bent tree braced to a stake to help it grow upward and straight has been the traditional symbol of orthopaedics for hundreds of years. Patients come to us in pain, with an injury, and we repair the problem and help them regain their strength. The same is true of our community as we recover from Hurricane Laura. We may need a little extra support right now, but we are far from broken. Our office has reopened and our physicians and staff are here to help our patients and our community stand straight and strong again.

www.centerforortho.com • L A KE C HA R LE S • SULPHUR

Sponsored by

serving SWLA

WHEN LAURA COMES THROUGH BUT YOUR BUSINESS INSURANCE DOESN’T, IT’S TIME FOR ACCOUNTABILITY. Let the legal teams who recovered millions from insurance companies after Hurricanes Rita and Katrina help get what’s owed to you.

You’ve been through more than enough.The last thing you need right now is your business insurance company giving you the runaround or worse, denying coverage. The law firms of Broussard + Williamson and Herman Herman & Katz, LLC, have partnered to assist businesses and victims of Hurricane Laura. This catastrophic event presents unique coverage issues. Every policy is different, and it is crucial to have an experienced insurance coverage lawyer review your policy immediately. If your business decides to make a claim, the manner in which it is documented and presented could affect whether it is paid or not. We can answer many of your business insurance policy questions. We’re here to help by offering business insurance policyholders affected by these events a free policy review. We helped hundreds of businesses devastated by hurricanes Katrina and Rita with their insurance claims, in addition to leading the fight to recover billions following the BP Oil Spill. Broussard + Williamson and Herman Herman & Katz, LLC, are here to help you protect your business and navigate through these extraordinarily difficult circumstances.

If you’ve suffered business losses due to Hurricane Laura, call 337.439.2450 today to schedule a FREE business insurance policy review. bbb.org | 337.478.6253

820 O’Keefe Avenue New Orleans, LA 70113 t: 504.581.4892 hhklawfirm.com

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HURRICANE LAURA RECOVERY A TRIBUTE TO THE HELPERS AND HEROES

Kudos & Appreciation TO LOCAL

Leadership

Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter helping relief efforts

Thrive Magazine for Better Living â&#x20AC;¢ October 2020

DeRidder Mayor Misty Clanton with helpers from Zachary, La.

Sulphur Mayor Mike Danahay

Sponsored by

serving SWLA

Thrive magazine would like to express our sincere gratitude to the leaders of Southwest Louisiana – the mayors, police juries, city councils, law enforcement and other first responders – for all their hard work and dedication to the communities they serve. These folks worked tirelessly (okay, they were all actually really tired, but they made it look easy and kept smiling) to help our lives resume a glimmer of normalcy. Our post-storm recovery would not be moving forward as it is without their diligent efforts.

THANK YOU SO MUCH!

IndustryInsider

Straight Answers to Your Questions on Industry and the Environment

I see the flares burning at local industries and can’t help but wonder what they’re burning, or if something is on fire. Is it dangerous?

Flares are a safety mechanism.

Flares process excess gas by burning it off. This safety mechanism minimizes air pollution and helps prevent industrial accidents. The noise that sometimes accompanies a flare is from the steam that’s used as a coolant. When the steam is introduced, it creates a hissing or rumbling noise. The steam cools the system, reduces smoke and minimizes air pollution. We know flares can cause concern and questions, and we try to minimize their use as much as possible because they’re so costly. Understanding why the flares are used can hopefully put any concerns to rest.

Joe Andrepont

LAIA

senior community affairs director with local industry

Lake Area Industry Alliance

bbb.org | 337.478.6253

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HURRICANE LAURA RECOVERY A TRIBUTE TO THE HELPERS AND HEROES

the Business Model LOCAL ENTREPRENEURS ASSIST IN THE RECOVERY EFFORTS

by Angie Kay Dilmore

Stellar Beans Free CommUNITY Pantry

Thrive Magazine for Better Living • October 2020

It’s one thing to offer goods and provide services to a community, but in a time of crisis, some business owners take their commitment to community a few steps further. Many of these businesses could not fully open immediately due to storm damage or were limited due to the power outage, but they nonetheless found ways to reach out and serve the people. The following are only a few examples of the many businesses that went above and beyond the expected. Despite broken storefront windows, Stellar Beans Coffee House and Edibles quickly opened their doors to the public after the storm. They offered free coffee and supplies at their CommUNITY Pantry, stocked with myriad items – food, fans, flashlights and batteries, hygiene items and diapers, cleaning supplies, and just about anything people were willing to donate. They encouraged patrons to

Take what you need and “leave what you don’t.”

Sponsored by

serving SWLA

bbb.org | 337.478.6253

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HURRICANE LAURA RECOVERY A TRIBUTE TO THE HELPERS AND HEROES

Lulu's serves free snowcones post-Laura

On Sept. 8, Lulu’s Snocones and More gave away over 700 free snow cones.

Mike’s Car Wash, located in Sulphur and newly opened on Country Club Road, provided over 3000 free car washes over the weekend of Sept. 25-27. Mike's Car Wash

Thrive Magazine for Better Living • October 2020

Salata Salad Kitchen worked hard to fuel local volunteers, linemen, first responders and community members involved in hurricane relief efforts in Lake Charles. The Beaumont, Texas location of Salata was spared the brunt of Hurricane Laura, but franchise partner Iris Campos was acutely aware of how lucky they were that the storm missed them. She eagerly supported neighboring Lake Charles by delivering over 1300 meals to the Lake Charles Salata location on Nelson Rd. and serving them outside the store, which was still closed at that time. Stine Home + Yard on Nelson Rd. couldn’t open their store initially, but they opened their drive through pick-up and stocked the shelves with needed items such as gas cans, cook stoves, fans, tarps, bottled water, generators, AC units, and such. They were assisted by out-of-state aid volunteers who helped with the long lines of customers. On Sept. 12-13, Stine hosted a gigantic food and supplies giveaway. Beaumont Salata employees prepare meals for Lake Charles workers Stine's

Sponsored by

serving SWLA

Infinite Designs Unisex Hair Salon post-storm

When Michael “Big Mike” Francis, owner of Infinite Designs Unisex Hair Salon on Broad St., saw the business he owned for 12 years was completely destroyed, he set up a chair outside and cut hair. He also cut hair for a client at the Sheriff’s department.

Michael "Big Mike" and officer

The Ritz Academy on Common St., Lake Charles offered free haircuts to linemen and first responders on Sept. 9 and continued the service through early Oct. Paul Pettefer, owner of Paul’s Rib Shack and the Laundry World facilities in Lake Charles, joined with other establishments such as Nina P’s and fed storm victims during the recovery.

right us

we’re you

where need

Breast Health

Pediatric Care

Cancer Care

Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation

Cardiology Ear, Nose & Throat Care Emergency Care Family Medicine Home Health Care Laboratory Nutrition & Wellness Obstetrics & Gynecology Orthopaedics

Pulmonary & Respiratory Care Radiology & Diagnostic Imaging Rural Health Centers Sleep Medicine Surgical Services Wound Healing Center

Lundy, Lundy, Soileau & South, LLP presented free informational meetings to help residents understand their homeowners insurance coverage and how to meet with insurance adjusters.

701 Cypress Street, Sulphur

wcch.com Feeding storm victims at Nina P's

bbb.org | 337.478.6253

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HURRICANE LAURA RECOVERY A TRIBUTE TO THE HELPERS AND HEROES

BUSINESS RECOVERY CENTER OPENS AT THE

SEED

CENTER The Chamber SWLA/SWLA Economic Development Alliance is providing business assistance and counseling along with McNeese’s Small Business Development Center at The SEED Center. They have extra computers set up for businesses that need assistance filling out online forms for funds through the SBA, LED and the State Treasurer’s office. “We fully encourage everyone to not wait. Pull out your phones and/or tablets and start the application process now. Call your bankers. Log onto https:// disasterloan.sba.gov/ela to start the process with the Small Business Administration (SBA). Where our Business Recovery Center will come in is when you need help during the process or need a skilled business counselor to give advice on what your next step should be,” said George Swift, President/CEO of the SWLA Economic Development Alliance and Chamber SWLA. “The Chamber has been here for over 100 years to represent and propel our business community forward. This is what we do. Let us help.” Due to Covid, the Business Recovery Center will be by appointment only. Call (337) 433-3632 to set up your appointment.

Thrive Magazine for Better Living • October 2020

Sponsored by

serving SWLA

iss M KEMAH

s s i M KEMAH TEEN

met up with

iss MLOUISIANA

and dropped supplies for her to give out for hurricane victims.

bbb.org | 337.478.6253

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HURRICANE LAURA RECOVERY A TRIBUTE TO THE HELPERS AND HEROES

United Healthcare and Peoples Health donated over 1000 hygiene kits and masks for community distribution.

SWLA Center for Health Services CARING BEYOND HEALTHCARE

The drive-thru distribution center provides critical supplies to those in need.

by Kristy Como Armand

As the storm cleared on the morning of August 27, the staff of Southwest Louisiana Center for Health Services in Lake Charles was able to see the trail of destruction Hurricane Laura left across their community. Their main medical building and their pharmacy suffered major damage. Streets were impassable. There was no power in the city, no safe water and they realized people would soon be in crisis.

Fortunately, they had put plans in motion before the storm, collecting supplies, water and food in case it might be needed. They never imagined just how critical the need would be. “The need for water, ice, food and hygiene were at the forefront of our community’s immediate needs, so those were our priorities,” said Jayvon Muhammad, CEO of the center. “We set up a command center in our east building, which was still functional, and began distributing supplies to community members who did not evacuate. This distribution center grew in size and scope over the following weeks, thanks to support from our employees, volunteers and contributions.” 36

Thrive Magazine for Better Living • October 2020

On the Sunday after the storm, donations of water, food, cleaning supplies, baby needs, hygiene items, pet food and more began to be dropped off at the center for distribution. Generator support was established on Monday and on Tuesday, a Water Fleet trailer began providing potable water for drinking, ice, restrooms, handwashing, and even showers in the center’s locker rooms. “Water was a key element in our response, for basic hygiene and in order to follow COVID infection control protocols,” said Muhammad. By Thursday, just one week into recovery, portable toilets and hand wash stations were set up for the public. Throughout the first month post-storm, hot meals were provided nearly every day to the public. These were organized by the center and prepared and served by restaurants, volunteer groups and individuals from across the region who wanted to cook for the community. “The support we have received has been incredible and we are very grateful to everyone who has responded by donating and volunteering,” says Muhammad. “This includes our team, many of whom had damaged homes themselves, but put the needs of our community first.”

To date, the center has recorded donations from nearly 200 individuals and 10 foundations/ corporations. Over 40 trucks delivered 280 pallets of donated supplies. The center’s efforts will continue as long as the need is there, and Muhammad says this will be many months. Trailers are being outfitted to serve as temporary medical and behavioral health offices to care for patients while the main medical facility is being repaired. Plans are being made to offer temporary housing to the center’s care providers who have been displaced due to storm damage at their homes. A Disaster Recovery Legal Clinic, staffed by volunteers, will offer neighbors help with assistance paperwork, insurance claims, renters’ rights and more. “Our patients and neighbors are among the most vulnerable in our community,” says Muhammad. “Even under the best of circumstances, they face obstacles to needed resources. A disaster escalates these challenges to a critical state. We do much more than provide care, and in response to Hurricane Laura, we have expanded our mission to ensure our community has access to the resources they need to rebuild their lives.”

Sponsored by

serving SWLA

To our Associates and Physicians who were here during the storm and continue to put the health of Southwest Louisiana first in the days following Hurricane Laura,

Thank you! You continue to fulfill our mission of extending the healing ministry of Christ in our community at a time when it is needed more than ever. Your service to our patients, while managing your own personal loss and devastation from the storm, is truly brave. You are our Heroes! We are in need of more heroes to continue our mission. For more information on open positions, visit ChristusCareers.org

We are here to serve our community through all of life’s storms CHRISTUS Ochsner Lake Area Hospital Open Services • • • • • • • • • • •

Admitting All support services Elective procedures Infusion Center Labor and Delivery MRI Mammography NICU Wound Care ER (opening mid-October )

CHRISTUS Ochsner St. Patrick Hospital Open Services • • • • • • • • • • •

Admitting All support services All inpatient units Behavioral Health Cath Lab Dialysis Elective procedures ER ICU/CCU Outpatient Rehab

Open • •

Radiation Oncology Surgery

For more information, visit ChristusOchsner.org bbb.org | 337.478.6253

Ochsner CHRISTUS Clinics • • • • •

Hematology/Oncology OB/GYN Primary Care Surgery Urology

For questions, or to make an appointment at a clinic location, please call 337.656.7875. thriveswla.com

20-1802

HURRICANE LAURA RECOVERY A TRIBUTE TO THE HELPERS AND HEROES

COMMUNITY COFFEE SERVES UP A CUP OF COMFORT FOR LAKE CHARLES RESIDENTS, CLEANUP CREWS AND FIRST RESPONDERS IN THE WAKE OF HURRICANE LAURA In the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Laura, Louisiana-based Community Coffee Company rolled into the area with their familiar red trolleys and doled out the beverage that fuels most of the state: coffee, of course. “We’ve been deeply saddened by what the people in Hurricane Laura-affected communities are going through right now, and we’ve been grateful to be able to offer free coffee for anyone who wants it,” said Community Coffee CEO David Belanger. “When you don’t have power, water or any of your basic daily comforts, even the little things like a fresh cup of coffee can mean a lot.” Fortunately, Community Coffee’s Lake Charles facility, at 720 E. Prien Road, was spared major damage. Community Coffee employees locally and from across the country staffed the trolleys and served neighbors and workers throughout Lake Charles. 38

Thrive Magazine for Better Living • October 2020

Community Coffee Company has committed to donating 10% of proceeds from the sales of Community® coffee and tea products in retail grocery locations in Louisiana and Texas through Oct. 31, 2020, up to $100,000, to support The Salvation Army’s Hurricane Laura relief efforts. “We have seen firsthand how this hurricane has affected our local communities, and we are humbled to play a role in the rebuilding efforts,” said Community Coffee Company CEO David Belanger. “We know that there’s still a long journey to recovery for the affected areas in Louisiana and Texas, and we’re committed to supporting these communities in the weeks and months to come.” “We’re not just delivering food and water in these hard-hit communities — we’re bringing hope,” said Jeff Jellets, territorial disaster coordinator for The Salvation Army USA Southern Territory. “Donations like the one from Community

Coffee will help us provide comfort, compassion and warm meals for stormaffected Texas and Louisiana residents in need.” Now in its 101st year, Community Coffee Company is the number one family-owned retail coffee brand in America and offers an expansive line of premium coffees, coffee beverages and teas. Four generations of the Saurage family have operated the company since its founding in 1919. For additional information, please visit CommunityCoffee.com or connect with the brand on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest. More information about Community Coffee Company’s hurricane relief efforts is available at https://www. communitycoffee.com/relief.

Sponsored by

serving SWLA

Boyd

Gaming,

DELTA DOWNS CONTRIBUTED $250,000 TO LOCAL RELIEF EFFORTS Delta Downs Racetrack Casino Hotel’s parent company, Boyd Gaming, contributed $250,000 to assist ongoing emergency relief efforts throughout Southwest Louisiana. They donated $150,000 to the American Red Cross to support its ongoing efforts to provide emergency shelter, food, water, relief supplies and other assistance to local residents impacted by Hurricane Laura, and $100,000 to Second Harvest Food Bank, which distributes emergency food and water supplies at multiple locations throughout the region. The latest contributions are part of Boyd Gaming’s ongoing $1.5 million relief effort in support of its team members and the Southwest Louisiana community. During the closure of Delta Downs, Boyd Gaming continued full pay and benefits for all Delta Downs team members and has provided additional cash grants and financial benefits to help with team members’ recovery efforts. “Boyd Gaming has been a proud member of the Southwest Louisiana community for nearly 20 years, and we stand ready to help our team members and this community in their time of great need,” said Keith Smith, President and CEO of Boyd Gaming. “The people of Southwest Louisiana are resilient and determined, and we will continue to stand by them and support them as they rebuild and recover.” “We are grateful for Boyd Gaming’s generous gift, which enables the Red Cross to provide refuge, food and other emergency support for people affected by Hurricane Laura,” said David Staszak, Division Vice President for the American Red Cross. “This is a tremendous gift of love that will have an immediate impact in our Laura response in Southwest Louisiana,” said Natalie Jayroe, President and CEO of Second Harvest. “Our deepest thanks to Boyd Gaming and Delta Downs for their dedication in helping hurricane survivors.” For additional information, visit www.deltadowns.com.

bbb.org | 337.478.6253

Butch Ferdinandsen

CFP®, CLU®, ChFC®, CRPS, CRPC Investment Advisor Representative Securities and investment advisory services offered through Woodbury Financial Services, Inc. (WFS), member FINRA/SIPC. WFS is separately owned and other entities and/or marketing names, products or services referenced here are independent of WFS.

2356 E McNeese St #100, Lake Charles, LA 70607 • 337-491-9236 thriveswla.com

HURRICANE LAURA RECOVERY A TRIBUTE TO THE HELPERS AND HEROES

Hurricane Laura

Number of residents under evacuation orders

1.5 million Number of people in SWLA who lost electricity during the storm

910,000

BY THE NUMBERS

Number of mosquito control vehicles spraying nightly in Calcasieu Parish

4 PLANES AND 10 TRUCKS

Damaged Entergy equipment in Louisiana from Hurricane Laura

12,400

Made landfall in Cameron Parish

Category 4 (only 7 mph less than a Category 5)

Maximum rain totals

12 inches 150 mph 154 mph Maximum sustained winds

Maximum recorded wind speed at Holly Beach

Aug. 27

Number of linemen in the field

16,000

FROM 30 STATES

1:00 a.m.

Number of free tarps provided and installed by Operation Blue Roof through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as of September 25,2020

4,058

BROKEN UTILITY POLES

3,400

INOPERABLE TRANSFORMERS

770 miles

Number of tarps requested as of September 25,2020

OF DOWNED DISTRIBUTION WIRE

10,046

Sources: Entergy, Washington Post, time.com

Thrive Magazine for Better Living â&#x20AC;¢ October 2020

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Number of deaths attributed to the storm in TX and LA

30DEATHS

Of those 30, number due to carbon monoxide poisoning from generators

12CARBON

MONOXIDE POISONING

LAKESIDE BANK & SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA

STRONGER TOGETHER

Your financial needs donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t stop because of a hurricane. As a strong local bank, Lakeside is open and ready to serve all the communities in Southwest Louisiana as we work to restore and rebuild our region.

Make Lakeside the first stop on your road to recovery.

LET LAKESIDE LEND A HELPING HAND Ask us about our hurricane recovery home equity loans and unsecured personal loans. Available for a limited time. Percentage of schools damaged in Calcasieu Parish School District

97% AT A COST OF 300 million (10 times the wreckage cost of Hurricane Rita)

AS OF SEPTEMBER 20, 2020

134 trucks

ARE REMOVING DEBRIS DAILY. AS OF THAT DATE, MORE THAN 400,000 CUBIC YARDS OF WASTE AND 26,000 PILES HAD BEEN REMOVED FROM ROADWAYS.

Lake Charles | Sulphur | Westlake | DeRidder bbb.org | 337.478.6253

MYLKSB.BANK

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HURRICANE LAURA RECOVERY A TRIBUTE TO THE HELPERS AND HEROES

The Better Business Bureau HELPS YOU PROTECT YOURSELF FROM STORM CHASERS AFTER A NATURAL DISASTER

SPECIFIC TIPS FOR VICTIMS OF NATURAL DISASTERS CONTACT YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY

Ask about your policy coverage and specific filing requirements. Save all receipts, including those for food, temporary lodging, or other expenses that may be covered under your policy. Your insurance company may also have recommended contractors.

DO YOUR RESEARCH

Find businesses you can trust on BBB.org. Check your city, parish, or Louisiana government agency responsible for registering and/ or licensing contractors. Get references from friends and relatives.

RESIST HIGH-PRESSURE SALES

Some storm chasers use tactics such as the “good deal” you’ll get only if you hire the contractor on the spot. Be pro-active in selecting a contractor and not re-active to sales calls on the phone or door-to-door pitches. Disaster victims should never feel forced to make a hasty decision or to choose an unknown contractor.

BE ESPECIALLY CAREFUL OF DOOR-TO-DOOR CONTRACTORS

Many municipalities require a solicitation permit if salespeople go door-to-door. Ask for identification. Check their vehicle for a business name, phone number, and license plates for your state.

Natural disasters like tornadoes, hurricanes, storms, flooding, and wildfires, often bring out the best in people, as strangers reach out to help others in need. Unfortunately, the aftermath of a crisis also brings out contractors taking advantage of those who have already been victimized. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) warns homeowners affected by natural disasters to beware of “storm chasers” and out-of-town contractors soliciting business. Although not all storm chasers are scammers, they may lack the proper licensing for our area, offer quick fixes, or make big promises they can’t deliver. In this special section from the BBB, you'll find tips to protect yourself from fraudulent contractors, and a directory of BBB accreditied businesses you can trust for repairs, rebuilding and recovery. 42

Thrive Magazine for Better Living • October 2020

DON’T SIGN OVER INSURANCE CHECKS TO CONTRACTORS

Get an invoice from the contractor and pay them directly (preferably with a credit card, which offers additional fraud protection over other forms of payment). Don’t sign any documents that give the contractor any rights to your insurance claims. If you have questions, contact your insurance company or agent.

BE WARY REGARDING PLACES YOU CAN’T SEE

While most contractors abide by the law, be careful allowing someone you do not know to inspect your roof and other areas of your house. An unethical contractor may actually create damage to get work. The same goes for attics, crawl spaces, ducts, and other places you cannot easily access or see for yourself.

Sponsored by

serving SWLA

Business

City

AIR CONDITIONING | HEATING | VENTILATION | AIR DUCT CLEANING

A. K. Newlin, Inc. Ace Air Conditioning Air Controllers, Inc. APEX Disaster Specialists Louisiana Climate Control, Inc. Cole Air, Inc. Dwayne's Southern Air Conditioning, LLC Greiner Air Conditioning LLC Joe's A/C, Refrigeration & Heating Serv. Moreno's Air Conditioning, Inc. Pitcher Air Conditioning, LLC Sims Air Conditioning, LLC South Louisiana Restoration Services LLC Star Service Inc Trouth Air Conditioning And Sheet Metal, Inc. Walley Auto & A/C Repair, LLC Wings Cooling & Heating, LLC

ALARMS | FIRE SAFETY

One Source Digital Public Phone Center/ Delgar Alarms Surveillance S & S Sprinkler Co., LLC Sylvan Special Systems, Inc.

Lake Charles Lake Charles Lake Charles Sulphur Lake Charles Lake Charles Ragley Lake Charles Lake Charles Sulphur Moss Bluff Lake Charles Lake Charles Lake Charles Sulphur Deridder Sulphur

337 433-0917 337 477-4530 337 304-0899 337 626-3725 337 477-1415 337 855-6628 337 725-4004 337 496-5226 337 478-5444 337 625-4521 337 855-0408 337 477-8700 337 564-3615 337 855-0107 337 527-8683 337 462-0967 337 528-2454

Lake Charles Jennings Westlake Lake Charles

337 419-3392 337 824-2109 337 882-0000 337 436-6880

AUTO DEALERS | AUTO REPAIRS | TRACTORS | TRAILERS | TOWING

AAA Glass and Upholstery, LLC Abell & Son, Inc. Alford Motors, Inc. All Star Buick Phipps Auto Group, LLC Allied Glass & Mirror Company, Inc. Ashford's Automotive Service Aubrey's Automotive, LLC Auto Collision Center, Inc. AutoPlex 2000 Belts Plus, Inc. Ben's Auto Restoration Bill Bailey's Affordable Auto Sales, Inc. Bill's Wrecker Service, Inc. Billy Navarre Auto Group Body Works Collision Repair, Inc. Bolton Ford, LLC Briley's Paint & Body Shop Bud's Auto & Towing Decker Automotive Delta World Tire Company Dom's Paint & Body, LLC Don's All Cloth Car Wash Don's Quick Lube, LLC Family Auto & Quick Lube Services, Inc. Fazio's Napa & Supply Final Touch Collision Repair Gene Koury Auto Sales, LLC Heartland Automotive Services Hester's Paint & Body, LLC Hudson's Glass of DeRidder Hurricane off Road, LLC JB Conversions Jiffy Lube - #3278 Keith's Paint & Body, LLC Kenjabruch AG & Equipment, Inc. Lake Charles Alignment & Brake Service Lake Charles Auto Truck & Air Repair, LLC Landry Supply, Inc of Lake Charles Mark Dodge Chrysler Jeep, LLC Martin Truck Center Martin's Paint & Body Shop Meads Automotive, LLC. Mid City Auto Service, Inc. Mike Willis Ford, LLC Nash Paint & Body Shop One Stop Auto Specialist, LLC Robbie's Front End Shop, LLC Ryan's Performance

bbb.org | 337.478.6253

Phone

Lake Charles Welsh Leesville Sulphur Lake Charles Lake Charles Deridder Deridder Sulphur Lake Charles Leesville Lake Charles Jennings Lake Charles Lake Charles Lake Charles Lake Charles Leesville Deridder Lake Charles Lake Charles Lake Charles Lake Charles Lake Charles Sulphur Lake Charles Leesville Sulphur Deridder DeRidder Lake Charles Sulphur Lake Charles Lake Charles Elton Lake Charles Lake Charles Lake Charles Lake Charles Lake Charles Lake Charles Sulphur Lake Charles Sulphur Leesville Lake Charles Jennings Lake Charles

337 564-4125 337 433-1434 337 239-3811 337 527-6391 337 439-8858 337 480-1460 337 463-9988 337 462-5572 337 625-8714 337 436-7698 337 239-7827 337 436-4824 337 824-8697 337 474-1999 337 855-4103 337 474-0070 337 491-9481 337 238-9540 337 462-4992 337 437-3900 337 240-8478 337 478-0776 337 479-0315 337 477-5367 337 527-5100 337 474-0844 337 239-6727 337 527-6680 337 463-3541 337 462-2594 337 214-5438 337 625-2379 800 417-7308 337 474-4379 337 584-2550 337 439-9465 337 439-5318 337 436-7247 337 474-2640 337 433-0506 337 437-7666 337 527-6111 337 436-0755 337 625-3030 337 238-2664 337 474-9200 337 824-0453 337 656-2072

Sins Customs, LLC Southern Motors Sulphur Automotive, LLC Truck & Trailer Equipment Company Walley Auto & A/C Repair, LLC

Lake Charles Deridder Sulphur Lake Charles Deridder

337 429-5310 337 463-4173 337 476-5002 337 433-0629 337 462-0967

ACOUSTICS | AUDIO VIDEO | COMPUTERS | DATA RECOVERY | MEDIA ROOMS | NETWORKS Advanced Office Products, Inc. Bayou Technologies, LLC C & S Business Machines LLC C.M. Long, Inc. Executone of Louisiana InfoTECH Solutions, LLC Inspection Cloud, LLC LB Computers, LLC Maverick Communications, Inc. National Networks, LLC One Source Digital Porche Advanced Systems Server@Work LLC Sins Customs, LLC Southern Technologies, LLC Structure X

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AWNINGS | GUTTERS | SCREENS | SHEET METAL | SIDING | WELDING Advanced Seamless Gutters, LLC Angelico Construction Company, LLC BC Rooftech & Remodeling Coastal Welding Supply of Louisiana, Inc. Gulf Coast Floors and Home Decor Gulf Machine Shop, Inc. H & H Metal Contractors, Inc. Hahn Roofing, Inc. Howell Industries, Incorporated JB Conversions Jerry's Machine & Fab Inc. JK Vinyl Siding LaPorte Contractors, LLC M & M Roofing, Siding, and Windows Metal Coverings, LLC Metal Outlet, Inc. MorCore Roofing, LLC Relief Windows Resin Systems, Inc. Roussell Construction, LLC Shows Steel LLC Southside Machine Works, Inc. Sulphur Sheet Metal and Fabrication Inc. Taylor Aluminum

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BANKS | FINANCIALS | LOANS | MORTGAGES

B1Bank Lake Charles CSE Federal Credit Union Lake Charles First Federal Bank of Louisiana Lake Charles First National Bank In DeRidder DeRidder First National Bank of Louisiana Crowley G.C.A. Federal Credit Union Lake Charles GMFS Mortgage Lake Charles IBERIABANK Lake Charles JD Bank Jennings Lakeside Bank Lake Charles Louisiana Mortgage Associates Lake Charles Merchants & Farmers Bank & Trust Company Leesville Nations Lending Lake Charles Omni Military Loans New Rochelle OneMain Financial Lake Charles Pemberton Mortgage Group Lake Charles Premier Nationwide Lending Lake Charles Southwest Louisiana Credit Union Lake Charles Sunbelt Credit Leesville

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HURRICANE LAURA RECOVERY A TRIBUTE TO THE HELPERS AND HEROES

Business Business

City City

BATHROOMS | CABINETS | KITCHENS | MILLWORK

Phone Phone

Boucher & Son's Construction, Inc. Lake Charles C. Morvant Construction, Inc. Welsh C.M. Long, Inc. Lake Charles Creative Concrete by Ron Lake Charles Creative Door and Window Lake Charles Cryer Custom Woodworking Sulphur Doug Ashy Building Materials - Lake Charles Lake Charles Ferguson Roofing Company, Inc. Lake Charles Granite Etc Sulphur Gulf Coast Floors and Home Decor Lake Charles Home Building Materials, Inc. Sulphur Keiland Construction, LLC Lake Charles Kennison Forest Products, Inc. Sulphur Lake Area Countertop Supply Lake Charles MB Home Solutions Lake Charles Moss Bluff Floors, LLC Lake Charles Pistol's Plumbing & Maintenance, Inc. Sulphur Savoie Lumber & Hardware, Inc. Creole Southwest Bar Needs Inc. Lake Charles Sulphur Stine Lumber Company TGLP, Inc Lake Charles United Site Services Lake Charles Williams Wood, LLC Sulphur Woodworking by Rocky Bell City

BUILDERS & CONTRACTORS

Alfred Miller Contracting Alfred Palma, LLC Angelico Construction Company, LLC Arabie Contracting LLC Armentor Services, Inc. BC Rooftech & Remodeling Blalock Contractors, LLC Boucher & Son's Construction, Inc. C. Morvant Construction, Inc. Camellia Homes Carl Hardy Construction, Inc. Christopher A. Salvador Construction, LLC Coastal House Elevations & Construction LLC Construction Services of Southwest Louisiana, LLC Countrywide Roofing LLC D & G Construction, LLC D.F. Development LLC Daughdrill General Contractor & Roofing Davis Backhoe & Construction, Inc. Fender Homes First Serve Investments, LLC Foundation Drill Shafts, Inc Gary Bellon Building Specialties, Inc. Greathouse Construction, LLC Gulf Coast Scales Gunter Construction Inc. H & H Metal Contractors, Inc. Heritage Builders, LLC Hollier's Home Improvement Co., Inc. J Oliver Construction John Hardy Construction K & J Development of SWLA, LLC Keiland Construction, LLC Kel & Coe Contracting, LLC L.D. Woodard Construction & Development LaPorte Contractors, LLC Lawson Coatings Lewing Construction Co. Inc. Manuel Builders, LLC Master Craft Construction, L. L. C. MB Home Solutions McManus Construction, LLC Metal Coverings, LLC Metal Outlet, Inc. Michael J. LeBlanc Construction Co, Inc MorCore Roofing, LLC Olshan Foundation Solutions

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Thrive Magazine for Better Living â&#x20AC;¢ October 2020

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PAR Construction Pat Williams Construction, LLC PERC Development, LLC Pistol's Plumbing & Maintenance, Inc. Polaris Construction QuienCade Builders, LLC R. Cloud Construction Co. Inc. R.E. Washington Construction, LLC Ribbeck Construction Corporation Robbins Contracting Rosteet Builders Roussell Construction, LLC RPG Investments, LLC Russell Stutes Construction, Inc. Sam Istre Construction Shannon Smith Construction, LLC Shows Steel LLC Simmons Contracting Inc. Spell Roofing & Home Repairs, LLC T Gaspard Construction, LLC Taylor Made Contractors, LLC TGLP, Inc Thomas & Sons Painting, Inc. Tommasi Brothers, Inc. Total Construction of DeRidder, LLC VT Contracting, LLC West Builders, LLC

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D & G Construction, LLC Sulphur McManus Construction, LLC Lake Charles Thomas Clophus Demolition Westlake Blalock Contractors, LLC Lake Charles Martin Insulation & Coatings, LLC Lake Charles Sims Air Conditioning, LLC Lake Charles Daughdrill General Contractor & Roofing Westlake Trouth Air Conditioning And Sheet Metal, Inc. Sulphur Arabie Contracting LLC Lake Charles Sulphur Sheet Metal and Fabrication Inc. Sulphur

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BUILDING MATERIALS

Doug Ashy Building Materials - Lake Charles Home Building Materials, Inc. Savoie Lumber & Hardware, Inc. Stine Lumber Company

BUILDING SUB-CONTRACTORS

CLEANING SERVICES | LAUNDRY | PRESSURE WASHING

AAA Drive In Cleaners APEX Disaster Specialists Louisiana Calcasieu Cleaning Service LLC Chem-Dry of Calcasieu Classy Cleaning by Stacy Leesville Laundry & Dry Cleaning, Inc. Marshland Lawn Service and Pressure Washing Merry Maids 985 RC Cleaning Red Gator Rentals, LLC Southern Janicorp, LLC Southern Sanitation Solutions, LLC Southwest Bar Needs Inc. The Grounds Guys of Lake Charles Thomas Clophus Demolition Total Construction of DeRidder, LLC

CONCRETE | STONE | FOUNDATIONS

Anu Works, Inc. C & R Preferred Concrete Pumping Castillo Bros LLC Creative Concrete by Ron D & D Custom Services, LLC

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Sponsored by

serving SWLA

Business Decker Finishing E & A Construct-All LLC Foundation Drill Shafts, Inc Louisiana Concrete, LLC McManus Construction, LLC Port Aggregates, Inc. R. Cloud Construction Co. Inc. R. E. Heidt Construction Company, LLC Sam Istre Construction Star Concrete Pumpers, Inc. Wingate Enterprises, Inc.

ELECTRICIANS | LIGHTING

A. K. Newlin, Inc. Brown's Electric, Etc. Jason Cole Electric Joseph's Electrical Center, Inc Kel & Coe Contracting, LLC Lake Area Electrical & Technical Services, LLC Loftin Electric Company, LLC Mr. Electric of Lake Charles, Louisiana Inc. Pat's Electrical Service, LLC Porche Advanced Systems Ralph's Industrial Electronic Supplies ReCon Management Services, Inc. Wills Electric, LLC

FIRE & WATER REMEDIATION APEX Disaster Specialists Louisiana South Louisiana Restoration Services LLC

City

Phone

Deridder Scott Sulphur Lake Charles Lake Charles Lake Charles Lake Charles Westlake Lake Charles Sulphur Sulphur

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Sulphur Lake Charles

337 626-3725 337 564-3615

FLOORING MATERIALS | INSTALLATION Bird's Hardwood Floors, LLC Creative Concrete by Ron Creative Door and Window Cryer Custom Woodworking Foret Flooring Gulf Coast Floors and Home Decor Mallett Buildings MB Home Solutions Moss Bluff Floors, LLC Southside Roofing TGLP, Inc The Floor Trader Williams Wood, LLC

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HANDYMAN SERVICES | HOME IMPROVEMENT

Angelico Construction Company, LLC Sulphur Ashford Property Management, LLC Lake Charles Bayou Builders Construction Group, Inc. Westlake Boucher & Son's Construction, Inc. Lake Charles C W Quality Home Improvement, LLC Leesville Creative Concrete by Ron Lake Charles D & D Custom Services, LLC Lake Charles Green's Handy Service, LLC Lake Charles Harmon Construction Deridder Positek LLC Deridder Renew Remodeling, LLC Lake Charles Southside Roofing Lake Charles T and D Carpentry Enterprises, LLC Lake Charles Woodworking by Rocky Bell City

HOME INTERIORS & OFFICE NEEDS

American Freight Furniture & Mattress ASI Office Systems Betsy's Frames by Design Blalock Contractors, LLC Brown Furniture Company

bbb.org | 337.478.6253

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Budget Blinds of Lake Charles C & S Business Machines LLC Carl's Furniture Rentals Changing Spaces Companies, LLC Conn's Appliances, Inc. Gulf Coast Floors and Home Decor Home Furniture Co. of Lake Charles, Inc. Joseph's Electrical Center, Inc Lake Charles Office Supply New Look Furniture Inc. Nichols Dry Goods, LLC Porche Advanced Systems Professional Office Products, Inc. Stine Lumber Company T Gaspard Construction, LLC TGLP, Inc United Office Supply & Equipment Co. Wings Cooling & Heating, LLC Woodworking by Rocky

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INSURANCE COMPANIES | AUTO • HOME• LIFE• PROPERTY Allstate Insurance -Melisa McMillian Allstate Insurance Scott Raley Allstate Insurance-John Fear American Income Life Insurance Company Blue Cross Blue Shield of LA BXSInsurance Dean Day: Allstate Insurance Glenn Dean Insurance Agencies Hight-Doland Insurance Agency Insurance Advantage, LLC Insurance Unlimited of LA, LLC. Jeff Davis Insurance Agency Kelly Lee Insurance McElveen Insurance, LLC Solinsky Group State Farm Insurance - Chris Gaudet State Farm Insurance - Hunter Perrin State Farm Insurance - Melanie Perry State Farm Insurance - Polly Scott State Farm Insurance - Trey Coker Terrell & Associates, LLC The Firm of Louisiana Property & Casualty, LLC The Firm of Louisiana, LLC

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Abell & Son, Inc. Anu Works, Inc. Armentor Services, Inc. Brandt Pedersen Construction Inc. Coastal Welding Supply of Louisiana, Inc. Creative Concrete by Ron D & D Custom Cutters & Landscaping, LLC D & G Construction, LLC Deep South Arborist, LLC Greathouse Construction, LLC Greengate Garden Center Gulf Coast Rubber & Gasket, LLC Harlow Lawn Mower Service Joshlin Construction, LLC Kenjabruch AG & Equipment, Inc. Landscape Management Services, Inc. Lawson Landscaping M & M Lawn & Irrigation, LLC Mark's Tree Service, LLC Marshland Lawn Service and Pressure Washing MB Home Solutions McMillian Irrigation, LLC Nash Fence & Supplies, Inc. Rivers Fence Company, Inc. Southern Lawn & Landscaping Stormwater Solutions Louisiana LLC The Grounds Guys of Lake Charles

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HURRICANE LAURA RECOVERY A TRIBUTE TO THE HELPERS AND HEROES

Business Business

City City Phone Phone

The Lo-Lift Pump Company, Inc Tommasi Brothers, Inc. Tuttle Roofing Number Twenty, LLC Twisted Vines Lawn & Landscaping Veteran Exteriors Welborn Monument, Fence & Pools, LLC Wilkinson Tree Farm

MOVERS | STORAGE

2 Cajuns & A Truck LLC Attic Vault, L.L.C. Bayou Services of Lake Charles, LLC Climatrol, LLC D & D Custom Services, LLC Genesis Mini Storage Southside Mini Storage StorageMart Two Men and a Truck Wingate Enterprises, Inc.

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HOUSE MOVERS & LEVELING | MANUFACTURED & MODULAR HOMES | METAL BUILDINGS

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PAINT | DRYWALL | INSULATION | WALLPAPER Boucher & Son's Construction, Inc. C.M. Long, Inc. Castillo Bros LLC Gary Bellon Building Specialties, Inc. Harmon Construction Home Building Materials, Inc. Lawson Coatings Martin Insulation & Coatings, LLC MB Home Solutions Sherwin Williams Company - Store # 7129 Sherwin Williams Company - Store #7445 Sherwin Williams Company- McNeese #7574 South City Paint & Supply Southside Roofing Stine Lumber Company TGLP, Inc Thomas & Sons Painting, Inc. Total Construction of DeRidder, LLC

PEST CONTROL | TERMITES Cal-Cam Termite & Pest Control, Inc. Hixon's Pest Control, LLC J & J Exterminating Co. of Lake Charles, Inc. Lake City Pest Control McKenzie Pest Control, Inc. Orkin, LLC Terminix Services

PERSONAL CARE

New Beginnings at Lake Charles, LLC Professional Counseling Services

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Thrive Magazine for Better Living â&#x20AC;¢ October 2020

PLUMBING | BACKFLOW | SEPTIC TANKS - SEWERS | WATER WELLS

Able Plumbing, LLC Advantage Plumbing, LLC APEX Disaster Specialists Louisiana Blue Jug of Lake Charles Dautriel's Plumbing, LLC Dynamic Plumbing & Drain Solutions, LLC Gulf Coast Rubber & Gasket, LLC H2O PLUMBING & SEWER LLC Lake Charles Filtration, Inc. Lanier Plumbing, Inc. Mike's Plumbing & Piping, LLC Pelican Plumbing & Piping Inc Pistol's Plumbing & Maintenance, Inc. Porche Plumbing & Piping Co., Inc. The Plumbing Warehouse/LCR Corporation Trouth Plumbing & Heating, Inc. United Site Services Wright's Plumbing Service Inc.

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POOLS | SPAS | DECORATIVE CONCRETE | PATIOS | PERGOLAS

C & D Pools LLC Cool Water Pools Creative Concrete by Ron Metal Coverings, LLC Moss Bluff Floors, LLC Planet Pools Pro Pools & Spas, Inc. Sabine Pools, Inc. Taylor Aluminum Welborn Monument, Fence & Pools, LLC

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Accu-Line Surveying, Inc. Brossett Architect, LLC Collins & Associates Land Surveyors Inc Greater Beauregard Chamber of Commerce Home Builders Association of SWLA InfoTECH Solutions, LLC Jeff Davis Chamber of Commerce Kel & Coe Contracting, LLC Kinder Chamber of Commerce Lancon Engineers, Inc. Levingston Group, LLC Morrison Surveying, Inc. Polaris Engineering, Inc. ReCon Management Services, Inc. Southwest Call Center, Inc. The Chamber / Southwest Louisiana Vernon Parish Chamber of Commerce West Calcasieu Assoc. of Commerce

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REAL ESTATE | RENTALS | ASSISTED LIVING

American Dream Real Estate, LLC of Louisiana Leesville 337 404-7755 American Property Solutions, LLC Lake Charles 337 764-7653 Ashford Property Management, LLC Lake Charles 337 660-6062 Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Sarver Realty Lake Charles 337 478-4111 Briken & Associates, Inc. Lake Charles 337 439-6030 Brookdale Lake Charles 337 478-4030 Coldwell Banker Ingle Safari - Realty Lake Charles 337 478-1601 Corporate Housing Inc Lake Charles 337 439-3322 Country Club Pointe Apartment Homes Lake Charles 337 476-1663 First Serve Investments, LLC Lake Charles 337 526-9973 Flavin Realty, Inc. Lake Charles 337 478-8530 KBE Property Management, LLC Sulphur 337 625-2047 Keiland Construction, LLC Lake Charles 337 436-6846 Latter & Blum Realtors, Inc. Lake Charles 337 436-6639 LC Inns, LLC Lake Charles 337 478-9889 Marilyn Boudreaux Century 21 Mike D Bono Realtor Lake Charles 337 499-9592 Nelson Pointe Apartment Homes Lake Charles 337 478-4545

Sponsored by

serving SWLA

Business PERC Development, LLC Propertywise, LLC RGWalk Development, LLC The Verandah Independent & Assisted Living Villa Maria Retirement Center Whittington Appraisals, Inc.

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ROOFING CONTRACTORS | ROOFING MATERIALS | METAL ROOFS All Purpose Roofing & Supply, LLC Arabie Contracting LLC BC Rooftech & Remodeling Bayou Builders Construction Group, Inc. Countrywide Roofing LLC Cross Construction, Inc. D.F. Development LLC Daughdrill General Contractor & Roofing Ferguson Roofing Company, Inc. H & H Metal Contractors, Inc. Hahn Roofing, Inc. Harmon Construction Hollier's Specialty Roofing Inc. LaPorte Contractors, LLC M & M Roofing, Siding, and Windows MB Home Solutions Metal Coverings, LLC MorCore Roofing, LLC North American Roofing Company Poole Roofing Company, Inc. RCI Roofing Shows Steel LLC Southside Roofing Spell Roofing & Home Repairs, LLC SWLA Roofing, LLC Taylor Made Contractors, LLC Tri Star Roofing Tuttle Roofing Number Twenty, LLC Veteran Exteriors Vincent Roofing VT Contracting, LLC

RVS | CAMPERS

Southern Mobile Products, LLC

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Sulphur

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SIGNS

Acme Sign Company, LLC Lake Charles 337 474-0521 Harvey's Auto Parts , Inc. Leesville 337 537-1800 Image360 Lake Charles 337 494-5533 Lake Area Sign Company, LLC Sulphur 337 625-4179 Specialty Sign & Stamp Co. Lake Charles 337 433-1516

DOORS | GARAGES | WINDOWS & COVERINGS A Door Works, Inc. Acadiana Glass of Moss Bluff AGS Auto Glass, LLC Allied Glass & Mirror Company, Inc. Budget Blinds of Lake Charles C.M. Long, Inc. Creative Door and Window Gulf Coast Floors and Home Decor Metal Coverings, LLC Metal Outlet, Inc. Overhead Door Company of Lake Charles, LLC Relief Windows Taylor Aluminum Tuttle Roofing Number Twenty, LLC

UTILITIES

Beauregard Electric Cooperative, Inc. Blake D. Hines, Inc.

bbb.org | 337.478.6253

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Cameron Communications, LLC Sulphur 337 583-2011 Entergy Lake Charles 800 368-3749 Fulair, LLC Lake Charles 337 310-1554 Gen-Set Enterprises, LLC Sulphur 337 583-2184 Jeff Davis Electric Co-Op, Inc. Jennings 337 824-4330 Lake Area Electrical & Technical Services, LLC Lake Charles 337 433-4810 Lake Arthur Butane Company Lake Arthur 337 774-2277 Loftin Electric Company, LLC Lake Charles 337 855-8882 Maverick Communications, Inc. Vinton 337 626-6030 National Networks, LLC Lake Charles 337 474-4249 One Source Digital Lake Charles 337 419-3392 R. Cloud Construction Co. Inc. Lake Charles 337 477-6614 Southwest Communications, LLC Ragley 337 214-5177 Suddenlink Communications Lake Charles 877 612-5036 Waste Management Lake Charles 337 430-3040

#SWLA Strong

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HURRICANE LAURA RECOVERY A TRIBUTE TO THE HELPERS AND HEROES

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Louisiana CREATES FUNDRAISING OPPORTUNITY AMIDST HURRICANE LAURA RECOVERY

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Louisiana (BBBS-SWLA) is a nonprofit youth mentoring organization that relies on annual corporate partnerships, individual giving, fundraising events, and grant partnerships to provide their services to the community at no cost.

The organization is taking a massive financial loss for the 20202021 year because of having to cancel major fundraisers and events due to the COVID-19 pandemic and now catastrophic damages to the SWLA community from Hurricane Laura. The estimated total loss comes out to nearly $400,000. To offset the total loss that the organization is facing, BBBS-SWLA in partnership with Shop SWLA, will be selling BBBS branded t-shirts for $20 that include the commonly used communitysupported #SWLAstrong hashtag. Proceeds in the amount of $5.00 from each sale will benefit the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Louisiana mentoring programs.

Thrive Magazine for Better Living • October 2020

“While we may have received major damage to our BBBS building from Hurricane Laura, we have not stopped actively supporting our Bigs, Littles and families. Please consider purchasing a T-shirt or two and proudly wear them as we are #SWLAstrong. Your donation is crucial to sustaining our mentoring mission and helping us enroll and match new Littles” says Erin Davison, Executive Director of BBBS-SWLA.

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First Federal Bank stands strong with all of our communities who are experiencing the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Laura. We hold you in our hearts and know that we will rise together, better and stronger.

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Citizens of Southwest Louisiana, 2020 has been a tumultuous year for many with the pandemic and now Hurricane Laura. Throughout Calcasieu Parish I have seen the resilience of our citizens as we seek to rebuild our homes. Friends, neighbors, and community servants alike have come together to ensure that need for food and supplies have been met. In the coming days we must continue this spirit of community and team work to rebuild this great city and parish. We must further put down our small differences and work together for the greater good. Together we are Southwest Louisiana Strong. Bobby Holmes #73 Candidate for 14th Judicial District Court Judge Division H

The new CloseWatch app from the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office provides an easy, anonymous way to report suspicious activity. Your tip could make a difference; whether it’s in the community or your local school. Use the CloseWatch app if you have information you feel could help law enforcement solve or deter crime, as well as prevent potential harm. But remember, if it’s an emergency, call 911. Download the free app from your app store and follow the simple instructions. Visit www.cpso.com/crime-prevention/closewatch-calcasieu-app to learn more and watch a demo of how the app works.

If you see something, send something. CloseWatch Calcasieu.

Download the app today. 50

Thrive Magazine for Better Living • October 2020

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Choose LOCAL for Storm Repair We stand with all of Southwest Louisiana as we face the huge work of recovery after Hurricane Laura. The Home Builders Association of SWLAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s member contractors offer the expertise you need to repair and restore your home or business. Visit hbaswla.org/directory for a complete listing of trusted, local contractors.

4875 IHLES RD # A, LAKE CHARLES | h(337) b a s 478-7893 w l a . o r g| HBASWLA.ORG

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HURRICANE LAURA RECOVERY A TRIBUTE TO THE HELPERS AND HEROES

CHRISTUS St. Patrick

FORMER EMPLOYEE SPARKS GOFUNDME CAMPAIGN FOR LAKE CHARLES’ HEALTH CARE WORKERS

Born and raised in Lake Charles, Pam Jackson Beal began her healthcare career in Southwest Louisiana. Now a top healthcare leader in Nevada, her heart and loyalty has been in the Pelican State. “It’s the memories of growing up in Lake Charles and my love for the rich culture, the food, festivals and most of all the people. Louisiana is a unique state with great traditions, unbelievable history and a melting pot of cultures. You are never a stranger in Louisiana,” said Beal. Beal planned, developed and managed the school-based health centers operated by CHRISTUS Oschner St. Patrick Hospital from 1995 to 2000. She now lives in Las Vegas and is the Director of Development for Spring Mountain Treatment Center and Spring Mountain Sahara, part of Universal Health Services, Inc., one of the nation’s largest and most respected providers of hospital and healthcare services. In late August, as Hurricane Laura made landfall, Beal was glued to the television. “When first seeing the initial footage of the catastrophic damages of Hurricane Laura, I was heartbroken and devastated. However, what touched me and moved me to action was hearing Lake Charles’ Mayor Nic Hunter’s voice on Public Radio describing the aftermath and pleading for assistance.” Beal started an ambitious GoFundMe account benefiting the CHRISTUS St. Patrick Foundation. In the weeks after the storm, there have been over 1,000 requests for assistance from

Thrive Magazine for Better Living • October 2020

CHRISTUS Associates. Many have been totally displaced from their homes and need assistance with housing costs and travel needs to get to work. Others need food, fuel for generators, window air conditioners and other basic items to conduct their daily lives. Some need help with costs for things like roof damage and tree removal. “We are honored and humbled that so many people are reaching out to help our ministry to provide assistance to our Associates,” said Kay C. Barnett, CFRE, Executive Director of Development for the CHRISTUS Ochsner SWLA Foundation. “In a very difficult time for so many, we are immensely grateful for Pam and others who are thinking of ways to help.” “Despite many not even being able to live in their own homes, our Associates here have been incredibly brave during this time, working tirelessly to care for this community throughout the storm and as we begin the long road to recovery,” said Kevin Holland, Chief Executive Officer, CHRISTUS Ochsner Health Southwestern Louisiana. Beal says that’s exactly what she has reflected on over the past several days, along with the amount of community service and compassion shown by her former health care family in Lake Charles. She now wants to pay it forward. “My career and life have been built on the important belief to give back based upon principles and examples taught by my parents.” For more information on Beal’s fundraising effort “Foundation of Hope Following Hurricane Laura” visit: gofundme.com/lakecharles-hurricane-recovery-assistance-fund.

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HURRICANE LAURA RECOVERY A TRIBUTE TO THE HELPERS AND HEROES

t a h T CarCe ontinues WCCH

remained

OPEN THROUGHOUT HURRICANE LAURA Hurricane Laura made landfall on August 27, and the staff of West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital (WCCH) was ready for her. Their disaster preparation is ongoing. That preparation served the hospital, our patients and our community well. WCCH was able to provide continual care to patients before, during and after the storm. The facility switched to generator power that had the capability to provide electricity to the hospital from the time the storm made landfall through September 9 when utility power was restored. “We review our emergency preparedness plan every spring, with input from all of our departments,” said Janie Fruge, CEO of WCCH. “Forecasters predicted an extremely active hurricane season, and unfortunately, they were not wrong. This is the type of catastrophic storm you hope you never have to experience, especially when you are already dealing with conditions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, but I could not be more proud of how our team prepared for it and took care of our patients during and after Hurricane Laura.” Tiffany Martin, Clinical Laboratory Director for WCCH, remained in the hospital during the hurricane. She had experience in this type of storm coverage from both Hurricane Rita and Hurricane Ike.

Thrive Magazine for Better Living • October 2020

“Working in the hospital during these storms helped me know what to expect, and how to prepare my staff,” she said. At the hospital’s leadership meeting on Monday, August 24, the plan for the storm was finalized and staffing teams were divided into shifts that began Wednesday morning. The Wednesday-morning shift arrived at the hospital prepared to remain working until it was safe for the next shift to relieve them after the storm. “We worked normally all day Wednesday, and we were very busy,” said Martin. “We continued working, caring for patients, but as the night progressed, we could feel and hear the winds pick up. Around 12:30 am, Thursday, we transitioned smoothly from utility to generator power. We had a final onsite meeting for staff late in the afternoon with a prayer led by Larry Norton, EVS Tech. As the intensity of the storm increased, we did have water come in through some windows and down some hallways. At one point, the Emergency Room doors were blown in. Our team worked together wherever needed to mop up water – everyone from maintenance staff to nurses and doctors to our top leadership. Our CEO, Janie Fruge, was right there with us. That was so reassuring to all of the staff. She worked with us throughout the entire night, making rounds and checking on everyone. Her hands-on leadership meant the world to all of us.”

by Kristy Como Armand

Martin said she and Fruge walked out together in the early morning once the storm had passed. “It was overwhelming to see the destruction all around the hospital – so much worse that we’d ever seen. It looked like a war zone.” Despite the destruction, WCCH never missed a beat, resuming patient care the morning after landfall. The first patient was treated in the Emergency Room at 8:30 a.m., and the first post-storm surgery was performed at 10:30 a.m. “We are fortunate to have a hospital and healthcare team in our city that is dedicated to caring for our community every day, but especially in times of disaster. To know that the City of Sulphur and the entire Southwest Louisiana community can rely upon a hospital dedicated to their community solidifies West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital’s role as the backbone of this community,” stated Mike Danahay, Mayor of the City of Sulphur. In a region frequented by hurricanes, disaster preparedness planning, and ongoing investment in infrastructure is vital. “With the support of local and state government, our organization has continually invested to improve our facility’s infrastructure,” said Fruge, “and this is what enabled us to weather this historic, devastating storm so well. A key piece of this was the backup generators at the City of Sulphur’s Water Plant. Thanks to these, our facility did not completely lose water, only water pressure.”

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The employees of WCCH have risen to the ultimate challenge and have shown immense courage and bravery in meeting the needs of the Southwest Louisiana community during this natural disaster, even as they dealt with loss to their own personal property. “Our physicians remain committed to providing exceptional patient care to the Southwest Louisiana community. They and our employees are the heart of this organization and I am incredibly proud of our team,” said Fruge. “While our facility has been battered in places, the spirit of our employees and this community will carry us through.”

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The hands of a surgeon. The eye of an artist.

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board-certified & fellowship-trained facial plastic surgeon jeffrey j. joseph, md, facs

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HURRICANE LAURA RECOVERY A TRIBUTE TO THE HELPERS AND HEROES

Lake Charles

Memorial

Hospital

RESUMES SERVICES Lake Charles Memorial Health System is safe, open and here for Southwest Louisiana residents. Their Emergency Services continue to be available 24/7 supported by cath lab, diagnostic imaging, lab, and pharmacy services. While some of their buildings sustained damage from the storm, and some of their doctors and services have had to change locations temporarily, Lake Charles Memorial (LCMH) is fully operational as a health system.

Memorial ramped up services at their main campus mid-last month with the addition of the full scope of Memorial services, such as surgeries and procedures, endoscopy, outpatient chemotherapy, radiation oncology as well as their medical acute care, intensive care, and behavioral health care units in operation. Memorial Medical Group physicians and their offices are ramping back up. While some office locations are not open due to damage, most of the physicians are holding tele-med appointments with some having walk-in office hours. Some physicians are working temporarily out of other offices or offsite, until their buildings are repaired so please verify their office location when an appointment is made. Right before Hurricane Laura made landfall, the Memorial Medical Group welcomed new physicians to their staff. Today, as they move forward with servicing the community, several of these physicians Lake Charles Memorial Hospital for Women OB/GYN are now ready to take new patients. Family Medicine Physicians office visits continue to take place in the physician offices Joshua Bacon, MD and Christian LeBlanc, MD are located at 4345 at Memorial for Women. Births and procedures as well as Nelson Road, Suite 102. Hari Bogabathina, MD is an interventional radiology diagnostics and the full scale of services have cardiologist with the Heart & Vascular Center on the 2nd Floor of the resumed at the campus after undergoing some repairs due Memorial Hospital campus. Kipp Cryar, MD is an orthopedic surgeon to the storm. The recovery and efforts to bring more services with a sub-specialty in foot and ankle surgery with Orthopedic back online in the wake of Hurricane Laura has created an Since 1952, through and storms, Specialists located on the 3rd floor of the Memorial Hospital pandemics campus. ever-changing situation.

Safe. Open. Here for You. your community healthcare system has been here. 56

Thrive Magazine for Better Living • October As 2020 southwest

Louisiana’s only trauma center,

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DWIGHT & GARY AND MERLIN LAW GROUP â&#x20AC;&#x201C; COMMITTED TO GETTING LOUISIANA BACK ON ITS FEET AFTER HURRICANE LAURA

Get A FREE Consultation For Your Insurance Claim! Hurricane Laura caused catastrophic damage to many homes and businesses throughout Louisiana, including Lake Charles and its surrounding areas. Local firm Dwight & Gary is teaming up with Merlin Law Group, a firm devoted to property insurance claims, to help residents and business owners secure the recovery they need and deserve. With over 35 yearsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; experience handling property insurance claims, our dedicated trial team and financial resources can help you see your insurance claim through and receive your entitled coverage benefits. If your insurer is delaying, denying or underpaying your claim, please do not hesitate to contact us at 337-488-6450.

For the latest on Hurricane Laura recovery information, visit www.lcmh.com/laura and for Covid-19 visitor limitations which are still in place go to www.lcmh.com/covid19.

merlin law group

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HURRICANE LAURA RECOVERY A TRIBUTE TO THE HELPERS AND HEROES

Pet ORGANIZATIONS to the Rescue by Angie Kay Dilmore

In a time of disaster, such as a devastating hurricane, many people must surrender their pets. The owners simply aren’t in a position to take good care of the pets. Worse, they evacuate and leave their pets behind to fend for themselves. The result is an overabundance of homeless animals, looking for a new family. Fortunately, there are organizations that strive to help these animals. Paws on the Geaux is a Moss Bluff-based mobile pet service that offers at-home pet sitting, dog walking, grooming, boarding and pet daycare. After Hurricane Laura, they hosted an international organization called Compassion Kind, a non-profit that focuses on animal recue and disaster relief. Once they got their team on the ground soon after the storm, they worked with local police, insurance adjusters, constructions workers, and residents to track down lost animals. They were overwhelmed with the number of animals they found each day – animals roaming the streets, locked in homes without food or water, or tied to poles and left to die.

Some pet owners surrender their pets to the organization because they have lost everything and want to provide a better home for the animals. Compassion Kind strives to reunite pets with their owners, but a large portion of the animals are sent to foster homes in other cities outside Louisiana, such as Tampa, Florida. Compassion Kind also worked closely with Lake Charles Pit Bull Rescue, who helped them with volunteers, found foster and forever homes, and procured supplies. Calcasieu Parish Animal Services and Adoption Center has reunited over 75 pets with their owners. If you know an animal is missing or believe it is at the facility, check www.petharbor. com.The website will have information and pictures of each animal within their facility. If you suspect one of the animals on the website is your pet, call the shelter’s temporary number at 337-853-9573. The facility is open from 1:00-3:00 p.m. by appointment only. If you see an animal in distress, call 337-853-9573. To make a donation or foster a pet for any of these organizations, see their websites or social media pages.

Marsha is one lucky dog! Local residents and Compassion Kind rescued her from a deserted island in Creole, La.

Thrive Magazine for Better Living • October 2020

Sponsored by

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We’re committed... We’re committed... The spirit of Southwest Louisiana is built on resiliency – overcoming adversity, evolving as we grow. Sasol and its employees are proud to share inof this spirit, investing time and resources to help our region The spirit Southwest Louisiana is built on resiliency – overcoming recover from the as devastating impacts Hurricane Laura. adversity, evolving we grow. Sasol andofits employees are proud to share in this spirit, investing time and resources to help our region recover from the devastating impacts of Hurricane Laura.

$100,000 in relief funds to the Community $100,000

inFoundation relief fundsof to theSouthwest Community Louisiana Foundation of Southwest Louisiana

Temporary housing, housing repairs Temporary and other direct housing, assistance for housing repairs

In-kind

land use donations In-kind to restoration land usefor crews donations equipment

to restoration staging crews for equipment staging

employees and other direct assistance for employees

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HURRICANE LAURA RECOVERY A TRIBUTE TO THE HELPERS AND HEROES

Caring Through

Hurricane Laura by George Cestia

As our community continues to recover from Hurricane Laura, there are reminders of how we, as a strong community made up of caring individuals, can weather any storm. The story of Betty and John serves as an illustration.

While most were evacuating ahead of the approaching storm, Betty Lyles thought about her friend, John; a strong, vibrant 74-year-old who lives with mild dementia and Parkinson’s Disease. Betty knows his abilities and needs because she is a CAREGiver for the local Home Instead Senior Care office and helps care for John. John’s family is all in New York and he had no one close to help him during the hurricane. So, Betty and her husband, Logan, decided to take John with them to a shelter in Baton Rouge to ride out the storm.

“I had to convince him to go with us,” Betty said. “But finally, he agreed and said he’d go.” The three loaded up and left town before Laura made landfall. What they anticipated would be a couple days turned into a week in the shelter. They spent their time playing games, talking, and helping each other through the uncertainty. When they returned to Lake Charles a week later, they were thankful to find their homes had not suffered any real damage. Betty says her goal through this was to take care of John and to make sure they’d all be able to return home safe and sound. “I just like taking care of people,” she said. “It’s what I do.” Betty and John’s story serves as an example we can all follow. And they are not alone. Our community is made up of “hurricane heroes” who step in to help whoever they can, wherever they’re needed. 60

Thrive Magazine for Better Living • October 2020

George Cestia is the franchise owner at Home Instead Senior Care of Lake Charles. To learn more about being a CAREGiver or the services Home Instead Senior Care provides, call (337) 480-0023 or check out the website, www.homeinstead.com/480.

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Former Cowboy Golfer RAISES MONEY AT U.S. OPEN FOR MCNEESEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S Hurricane

Laura Relief Fund

Former Cowboy standout and professional golfer Bob MacIntyre is raising funds for McNeese State Universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hurricane Laura Relief Fund while he competes at the U.S. Open. From Oban, Scotland, MacIntyre attended McNeese on a golf scholarship from 2014-15 and competed on McNeeseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Golf team, where he received the 2015 Southland Conference Freshman of the Year award and helped the team secure a second-place win at the 2015 Southland Conference. MacIntyre went pro shortly after winning the Scottish Amateur Championship in 2015. In 2017, he finished first in the Sahara Kuwait Championship on the MENA Tour. He followed this by ranking in the top 15 in the Challenge Tour in 2018, and in 2019 he finished 11th in the Race to Dubai. He currently stands as the leading Scotsman in the Official World Golf Ranking and is the recipient of the 2019 Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year award, which is awarded to the most promising newcomer on the European Tour. Competing at his first-ever U.S. Open at the Winged Foot West Course in Mamaroneck, New York, MacIntyre pledged that he, with the support of his sponsors Orion Group, Aberdeen Standard Investments and Arnold Clark, would donate $3,500 for every birdie or better he makes at the open to the McNeeseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hurricane Laura Relief Fund. As of Sept. 19, 2020, MacIntyre has raised $21,000 and, having made the Openâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s weekend cut, he says heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s looking forward to whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ahead of him. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am delighted to make the weekend at my first ever U.S. Open and, with six birdies so far, I hope we can keep adding to the total and help all those affected by Hurricane Laura. I will do my best to raise the total even more. Stay safe and Geaux Pokes!â&#x20AC;? To find out more or to donate to McNeese State Universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hurricane Laura Relief Fund, visit https://mcneesefoundation.org/give/campus-emergency-fund/

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e m o c l e W

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The

Comeback is always

Greater

than the Setback

As residents of Southwest Louisiana, the team at Healthy Image is as resilient as the community we call home. Our work never stopped, and we’re working even harder to help our clients and our community rise to the challenge and come back stronger than ever. OUR SERVICES INCLUDE:

advertising public relations graphic design media relations social media copywriting

photography strategic planning video production website development event planning corporate communication

4845 Ihles Road, Lake Charles (337) 312-0972 | ehealthyimage.com U. S. CHAMBER TOP 100 SMALL BUSINESS • SWLA CHAMBER SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR • LA DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT • REGIONAL SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

Thrive Magazine for Better Living • October 2020

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HURRICANE LAURA RECOVERY A TRIBUTE TO THE HELPERS AND HEROES

PRESERVING

History Through Photography There are countless ways to serve a community after a disaster â&#x20AC;&#x201C; some are a bit more subtle than others, but no less vital. Photographers like Chad Moreno/Killer Photography have been documenting the storm damage and recovery efforts since the day after the storm, preserving this piece of history for posterity. Here, Moreno commemorates Southwest Louisiana with these Before and After Hurricane Laura photos. The legendary Sallier Oak has survived another major hurricane! Located behind the Imperial Calcasieu Museum on Sallier St., this majestic, centuries-old tree is a historical landmark said to be located on the original property of pioneer Charles Sallier, the first settler to locate on the shores of Lake Charles and whom Lake Charles is named after.

before

Thrive Magazine for Better Living â&#x20AC;˘ October 2020

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Capital One Building, Lake Charles

before Mural by Fred Stark on Ryan St., Lake Charles

before

after after

after

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HURRICANE LAURA RECOVERY A TRIBUTE TO THE HELPERS AND HEROES

available at . shopswla com Chad Moreno/Killer Photography is offering a commemorative 2021 calendar featuring Hurricane Laura. Pre-orders available in November. Cost $30. Go to shopswla.com to order. Include a photo of the calendar.

DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS FOR BUSINESS

copiers • scanners • printers • fax • shredders

Locally owned and operated for over 30 years

600 W McNeese Street, Lake Charles | (337) 474-9913 asiofficesystems.com 66

Thrive Magazine for Better Living • October 2020

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PROPERTY DAMAGE LAW No Recovery. No Fees or Costs. OFFICE HOURS: 8:00 am to 6:00 pm, Monday - Friday Weekend and Evening Appointments Available

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HURRICANE LAURA RECOVERY A TRIBUTE TO THE HELPERS AND HEROES

TOGETHER

We Rise

To learn more about Jeremy Price and Price Art Studio, visit Instagram @priceartstudio.

Thrive Magazine for Better Living • October 2020

L’Auberge Casino Resort Lake Charles partners with Jeremy Price to present “Together We Rise,” a mural about the strength and determination of the Southwest Louisiana community to rebuild in the wake of Hurricane Laura. “We are excited to spread the message of hope through art. This mural symbolizes the resilience of our community,” said General Manager Harold Rowland. The mural is on display now in the main entrance lobby at L’Auberge Lake Charles. Visitors are invited to view and take photos in front of the mural to show that we are SWLA Strong.

To learn more about L’Auberge, call reservations at 866-580-7444; visit www.llakecharles.com; find us on Facebook www.facebook.com/ laubergeLC; Instagram @laubergelakecharles; or follow us on Twitter @LAubergeLC .

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MANY HANDS

make LIGHT WORK

â&#x20AC;&#x153;The purpose of human life is to serve; and to show compassion and the will to help others.â&#x20AC;? Albert Schweitzer One day, our children will hear the story of how a major storm ripped our little town apart and how everyone came together despite conflicts going on in the world. Neighbors helped each other pick up the pieces and make our home whole again. Southwest Louisiana knows the importance of helping, showing compassion, and loving others. Danny Allain, an artist and muralist from Dequincy, La., created this mural that beautifully reflects these qualities and the resilience of our community. The mural can be found near Pocket Park on Cole St, Dequincy, LA.

To learn more about Danny Allain visit Facebook @dannyallain or visit www.theinklinggirl.patternbyetsy.com

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Solutions

for life

from Solutions Counseling & EAP by Keri Forbess-McCorquodale, MS, LPC, LMFT, CEAP

Living in the Time of “Both/And” It’s so surreal, isn’t it? Once again our community has been turned upside down by a hurricane. Once again many have lost so much. Once again we are learning so many lessons and re-prioritizing. I have been providing counseling for the past several weeks. Even though my office was destroyed by the hurricane, I felt the need to get up and running as soon as possible. Both so we could take care of our current clients, and so we could be available for others who would need help during this stressful time. I’m very grateful we had already moved to electronic records, and thanks to COVID, we had already been doing virtual therapy. All our current clients are already comfortable with therapy over a video screen, and all our records were protected. Whew! (I honestly can’t believe I just wrote something positive about this pandemic.) Ever since I started seeing my clients again, there has been a running theme. Everyone wants to discuss all they have lost very briefly, as in one or two sentences; then quickly move into “but it could have been so much worse.” When I bring them back to discussing their feelings about the loss, and point out they need to deal with that and not minimize it, there is a palpable sense of relief. It’s as though they felt bad and selfish for being upset for their own loss. Folks, we are in a “both/and” situation right now. We have to figure out a way to have lots of feelings going on at one time: sadness, loss, guilt, gratefulness, hope, etc. We need to “feel all the feelings” in order to come out of this on the healthy side of things. Consider the following:

TIME TO GRIEVE. You must allow yourself time to

come to terms with all you have lost. Don’t gloss over this. Talk about it. Cry about it. Write about it. If you have children, you must allow them to do the same. Don’t cut them off with “so many other little boys and girls lost more than you.” And remember, we aren’t just talking about things. We are talking about the loss of relationships, businesses, schools, security, comfort, and so many other things. Give yourself and your family the space needed to grieve.

Thrive Magazine for Better Living • October 2020

TIME FOR GRACE. A whole lot of grace is needed

right now. Try to remember everyone is hurting and stressed. No one is at their best, including you. When you get frustrated, take a deep breath and go take a walk. Take a break, and give the object of your frustration a break as well. Everyone is doing the best they can right now.

TIME TO BE GRATEFUL. Gratefulness is the “and”

of the “both/and” equation. You can be both sad for your loss and grateful it wasn’t more. While you need to spend time grieving, you don’t need to get stuck there. Gratefulness is the antidote for “stuckness.” Finding things to be grateful for helps you regain footing and perspective. Most of us know someone who lost more than we lost. Even if you suffered a devastating loss, gratefulness is still where you need to head when you are feeling overwhelmed. Maybe the kindness of friends or strangers is something you can hang on to. Maybe assistance you have received from the government is an area of gratefulness for you. I’ve even talked to people who were grateful for the “chance to start over” and realize how little they actually need to be content. It’s all a matter of how you choose to look at the situation – not the situation itself.

TIME TO GIVE. Once you’ve taken the time you need

to grieve, it’s time to start helping others. Giving of your time and talents is one of the certain ways for you to feel better. Plenty of people and organizations would love some help. Just show up (with food). Don’t ask, “Can I help?” Ask, “What can I do to help?” Many people are reticent and won’t ask for help. But if you say, “I’m spending today with you doing whatever you need,” you will very likely get a positive reception. And you will help yourself the most of all. I wish for you the space to grieve, grace for yourself and others, finding things to be grateful for, and a giving spirit. We are a strong people. We will find our way through the darkness and come into the light.

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