Ramping Up for Dulac
Donation protected
PLEASE HELP a group of student volunteers from Union College purchase lumber and building supplies to help two families in dire need by building wheelchair ramps so that they may access their homes.
I am a professor at Union College and each year, we organize a group of students that commit to traveling from Schenectady, NY to Dulac, Louisiana to help with the ongoing rebuilding efforts following the terrible destruction caused by recent hurricanes – Katrina, Rita, Ike, Gustav & Isaac. These are courageous and dedicated young men and women who want to make a difference. 9 years after Katrina, many families affected by these storms are still suffering and waiting for assistance.
WHAT HAPPENED
Many Americans are unaware that Hurricane Katrina in 2005 did not do much damage to most of the South Louisiana wetlands outside of New Orleans. Hurricane Rita followed 3 weeks later and was another story. Rita was the fourth most intense Atlantic hurricane ever recorded and the most intense tropical cyclone ever observed in the Gulf of Mexico. It wreaked havoc across southern Louisiana, from the Mississippi delta to the Sabine River.
In southeast Louisiana's Terrebonne Parish (where Dulac is located), Rita’s storm surge reached 7 ft (2.1 m), flooding an estimated 10,000 homes. Virtually every levee was breached. Some people were stranded in flooded communities and had to be rescued by boat.
It took weeks to months to restore the entire region's electrical and communications infrastructure. 9 years later families are still recovering from the catastrophic damage. In the meantime, Hurricanes, Ike, Gustav and Isaac have again pummeled the region. And communities now face the additional challenge of recovering from the 2010 Gulf Oil disaster.
THE NEED
With the help of the Dulac Community Center, many homes in this area have been raised as much as 12-14 ft. off the ground to protect from future flooding. Unfortunately, many families also have disabled members who need wheelchair access to their homes. Families often do not have the extra money needed to build wheelchair access. Union College students will build wheelchair ramps in Dulac this December. Your donation can make the difference.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Your contribution goes directly toward purchasing the lumber and building supplies needed to build ramps for two needy families. Any additional funds will go toward helping other families affected by the hurricanes. Our student volunteers from Union College are donating their time and dedication to make this happen.
RAMPS ARE EXPENSIVE! HERE'S WHY:
*Building codes require 1 ft of ramp for every 1 inch elevation
*Typical Dulac home is elevated 7-10 feet
*An 84 ft ramp may be needed for each and with wood costs rising each year, it now costs upwards of $3K in lumber and supplies to build just one ramp.
__________________________________
I am a professor at Union College and each year, we organize a group of students that commit to traveling from Schenectady, NY to Dulac, Louisiana to help with the ongoing rebuilding efforts following the terrible destruction caused by recent hurricanes – Katrina, Rita, Ike, Gustav & Isaac. These are courageous and dedicated young men and women who want to make a difference. 9 years after Katrina, many families affected by these storms are still suffering and waiting for assistance.
WHAT HAPPENED
Many Americans are unaware that Hurricane Katrina in 2005 did not do much damage to most of the South Louisiana wetlands outside of New Orleans. Hurricane Rita followed 3 weeks later and was another story. Rita was the fourth most intense Atlantic hurricane ever recorded and the most intense tropical cyclone ever observed in the Gulf of Mexico. It wreaked havoc across southern Louisiana, from the Mississippi delta to the Sabine River.
In southeast Louisiana's Terrebonne Parish (where Dulac is located), Rita’s storm surge reached 7 ft (2.1 m), flooding an estimated 10,000 homes. Virtually every levee was breached. Some people were stranded in flooded communities and had to be rescued by boat.
It took weeks to months to restore the entire region's electrical and communications infrastructure. 9 years later families are still recovering from the catastrophic damage. In the meantime, Hurricanes, Ike, Gustav and Isaac have again pummeled the region. And communities now face the additional challenge of recovering from the 2010 Gulf Oil disaster.
THE NEED
With the help of the Dulac Community Center, many homes in this area have been raised as much as 12-14 ft. off the ground to protect from future flooding. Unfortunately, many families also have disabled members who need wheelchair access to their homes. Families often do not have the extra money needed to build wheelchair access. Union College students will build wheelchair ramps in Dulac this December. Your donation can make the difference.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Your contribution goes directly toward purchasing the lumber and building supplies needed to build ramps for two needy families. Any additional funds will go toward helping other families affected by the hurricanes. Our student volunteers from Union College are donating their time and dedication to make this happen.
RAMPS ARE EXPENSIVE! HERE'S WHY:
*Building codes require 1 ft of ramp for every 1 inch elevation
*Typical Dulac home is elevated 7-10 feet
*An 84 ft ramp may be needed for each and with wood costs rising each year, it now costs upwards of $3K in lumber and supplies to build just one ramp.
__________________________________
The wheelchair ramp above was built in Dulac this past spring by volunteers from Christ United Methodist Church in Plano, TX. The supplies for it cost almost $3,000. Read about it here: CUMC Disaster Response Team Blog
(photo used by permission)
(photo used by permission)
Organizer
Jan Grigsby
Organizer
Schenectady, NY
