Montegut couple’s home destroyed by Ida

Ida Relief

Montegut couple’s home completely destroyed by fallen tree

Cajun Navy Ground Force, other agencies help with the cleanup

Story by Janet Marcel

After Hurricane Ida, Terri LeBouef reached out to the Cajun Navy Ground Force to ask if they could help remove a large tree from her daughter Dora’s property in Montegut.

“When this request came in, all they asked for was that a tree be removed … we had no idea that this was all that was left on their property … Hurricane Ida had destroyed the home that once stood there,” says Brooke Barrios, social media team lead for the Cajun Navy Ground Force. “It was absolutely devastating. Unfortunately, this is the tough reality many are facing here. Our hearts are with this family as they move forward during this time. We were happy to do all that we could to help.”

Dora and Jed Levron live in Montegut and are parishioners of Sacred Heart Church. Dora says Hurricane Ida’s destructive winds caused a massive pecan tree to fall on their home and it had to be completely demolished. After the house was torn down, the Cajun Navy along with help from Catholic Charities Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux and Knights of Columbus Council 8342 in Prairieville, came in and removed the pecan tree for them, because they didn’t have the proper equipment that was needed.

“I am truly blessed and grateful to have met some amazing people who helped cut up the tree,” says Dora. “Everything just happened so fast. We were able to save a few things that were in the house before it was torn down … you just never think something like this will happen to you.”

Dora says they have insurance, but are still deciding what they want to do and what they can afford to do, since rebuilding would require lifting their home 10 feet off the ground and even then the insurance would still be very high.

Dora was born and raised in Montegut and her husband Jed is from Pointe-aux-Chenes. “We have no plans to leave the area,” says Dora. “This is our home. It’s where our family is and where our church is.” BC