Amid National Crises, Louisiana Mayor Fears His Decimated City Will Be Forgotten

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An aerial view of Lake Charles, La., shows damage to houses last week after Hurricane Laura, one of the most powerful storms ever to hit Louisiana, tore through the area.

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Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter visits a neighborhood damaged by Hurricane Laura. Tens of thousands of people will be without electricity for weeks, according to the local utility company.

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Qwentin Smith and grandmother Gwendolyn Smith stand in front of their home in Lake Charles. Two trees crushed the back of the house when Laura ripped through southwest Louisiana.

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Qwentin Smith and grandmother Gwendolyn Smith stand in front of their home in Lake Charles. Two trees crushed the back of the house when Laura ripped through southwest Louisiana.

Ian Stewart/NPR

Down the street, Gwendolyn Smith is headed out to try and find a tarp to fix the holes in her roof. With many buildings in the city damaged, plastic sheeting is scarce. Two big trees fell over onto the house she lives in with her 15-year-old grandson, Qwentin Smith. They’re hoping her landlord who lives in California will fix the damage soon.

«When it rains, it just pours down like a faucet, Gwendolyn Smith says. Her car has a faulty transmission, so they stayed put during the storm. Now, Smith, who is a security guard at a city park, is struggling to afford gas for a generator. She’s spent $110 in just the past three days.

The house has no power and just a trickle of water in the kitchen and bathroom. Smith says she tried to register with FEMA, but without an Internet connection she is unable to finish her application for aid.

«They ain’t doing nothing to help us, Qwentin says. His ninth-grade classes were canceled ahead of the storm. Now he is helping neighbors clean up debris. «We’re just surviving.

The Smiths are desperate for information — about when the power might come back on, when they’ll be able to return to work and school, and where they can shelter in the meantime.

«The best we can do is get on top of the car or on top of the house to get service at night, when it’s not that hot, Qwentin says.

It’s risky with the roof, but every night he climbs up, holds his cell phone to the sky and tries to get some word about what might be next for his family, and for Lake Charles.