Families await federal aid after the deadly flood in Louisiana
DENHAM SPRINGS, LA (KTRK) -- "Everything I own is out there in the road," said Jimmy Duncan. Almost every resident in Denham Springs has the same story to tell.
"We had 44 inches we lost three vehicles," said another resident.
"Never thought it flood though and it came up mighty mighty fast," said Joy Dixon. The Amite River went over its banks swallowing entire neighborhoods.
"If we would have waited 45 minutes like most of our neighbors we would have been leaving by boat," said another resident.
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Two weeks later the recovery and clean-up process seems never ending. "I always wanted to open this up so now is my opportunity again," said Joy Dixon.
As of now, FEMA has registered 129,000 homeowners and distributed $231 million dollars. Some like Bianca Lowe were denied. "My washer rand my floors were wet but it wasn't enough for FEMA to compensate me," said Lowe.
Lowe lives on the second floor of an apartment complex but day in and day out he has to walk through debris.
"You have a choice, stay here and pay your rent or they will give you your deposit back but where would you go," she said adding there is no place to live right now.
A lot of people wouldn't have a roof over their heads if not for the kindness of strangers.
"It was a complete stranger that we met going through 3 shelters and she was kind enough to let us stay with her," said another resident who lost everything.
While it may take months for the people of Louisiana to recover they're resiliency is evident. "We're steppers here you know what I mean we will keep going," said another of Denham Springs.
