St. Ann Church, Bourg, shortly after Hurricane Ida
Recovery process moving forward despite widespread damage, protocols and methodologies Story by Janet Marcel Ten months ago Hurricane Ida made landfall at Port Fourchon, LA, about 18 miles southwest of Grand Isle and about 60 miles south of New Orleans, wreaking havoc as it moved north through southeast Louisiana. Its catastrophic 150 plus mile-an-hour winds continued to lash the State of Louisiana as a Category 4 storm for about six hours after it made landfall, damaging several churches, Catholic schools and other facilities in the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux. Sunday, Aug. 29, 2021, is a day that will not soon be forgotten by anyone in south Louisiana. Of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux’s 39 churches, nine received major damage, 15 received moderate damage, and 15 received little to no significant damage. Of the 11 Catholic schools in the diocese, six received major damage; one received moderate damage, and four received little to no significant damage. In addition to the churches and schools, many other church parish facilities sustained anywhere from major to moderate damage including roof damage, shingle loss, water damage, collapsed walls, siding damage, broken mausoleums and tombstones; broken windows, and downed trees and fences. 32 • Bayou Catholic • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • July 2022
The recovery process has been a frustratingly slow one for many, including the leadership team in the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux. William (Bill) Barbera, diocesan chief operating and financial officer, explains that there is a process that must adhered to in this situation. “FEMA has specific protocols and methodologies that, if followed, we should be able to navigate the maze of paperwork. The key to our success in working with FEMA is doing things properly and not trying to circumvent the system and creating doubt in our ability or desire to play by the rules. Quite simply, we need FEMA to be able to fund the rebuild and they make the rules!” Following is a timeline of the actions taken by “diocesan leadership” beginning immediately after Hurricane Ida’s landfall in the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux on Aug. 29, 2021. With regard to disaster recovery, the term “diocesan leadership” refers to the bishop/diocesan administrator, diocesan chief operating and financial officer; diocesan Office of Building & Construction staff, and members of the diocesan Recovery Task Force that is made up of longstanding church parish leaders in various areas of the diocese.
