Ourso-Richard Family Relief Fund

I grew up in Louisiana and am proud to have been raised in the Central community where my family still resides. This past week, my widowed Mother (Paulette Ourso), brother (Gary Ourso Jr.) and niece (Charley Ourso) were extreme victims of the 2016 Louisiana floods. In the early morning hours of August 13, they quickly evacuated by boat with only Mom’s medications and the clothes on their back.  








Mom's home was paid off 20 years ago, and like many others in the area, she did not have flood insurance.

When floodwaters subsided 3 days after the storm, they returned to find they had all lost EVERYTHING – home, cars, all household items, all the basic essentials of life. What remained were filthy, mucky piles bathed in mud, toxic chemicals, spoiling food and rapid-growing mold. Life as they knew it has changed forever.
 
Seven other family members are in the same situation. Those whose homes were spared have been working 16-hour days to help the others haul their belongings to the curb, tear out sheetrock and rip up floors - back-breaking work to gut these homes quickly. Mom’s house took 4 days to gut and will take 2+ or more weeks to dry out before we can spray for mold.

So, now what?

It is hard to say where we go from here.  Rebuilding their lives from scratch is nearly impossible to get our heads around right now.  My Mom is staying  with me in Arizona  for now as her home is cleared out and we can access our timing and options for repairing and rebuilding her home where Charley and Gary also lived.

My pride has caused me to be reluctant to ask for help so far, yet so many wonderful people from my life have continued to ask – “Really, how can we help?”  

I would like to launch a Go Fund Me account on behalf of my family on both Mom and Dad’s side – the Ourso/Richard family --  to help my immediate family (Paulette Ourso, Gary Ourso Jr., Charley Ourso) and if possible, other extended family members who may also be struggling with lack of flood insurance, FEMA financial support or other resources to start to repair their lives.

All donated support will go towards costs related to rebuilding their home with foundation work, insulation, drywall, plumbing & electrical repairs, wood, and all other necessary building supplies, materials and contracted services. If the costs to restore my Mother's home exceeds available funds, we will consider applying donated funds to helping them secure new housing options.   

Our goal is to run this campaign for 3 months as we gather information on loans, financing and other  steps required to understand our future options.