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Driving on Airline Drive in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, I passed by multiple businesses that were closed. Turning onto the street that will take me to my destination for the day, I pass by home after home with piles of drenched clothes, furniture, and appliances. Their belongings, livelihood and memories are now on the curb waiting to be picked up by the garbage truck.
Between August 8 and August 15 of 2016 many lives were changed forever. More than 7 trillion gallons of water fell upon the state, which is more than both Hurricanes Katrina and Isaac combined. Hurricane Katrina dropped 5.3 gallons of water while Hurricane Isaac unloaded 2.3 gallons of water. Many are calling it the “1000 year flood” because of the areas receiving a 0.1 percent chance of occurring in any year.
Tragically, 13 people lost their lives. South Louisiana was declared a federal disaster area and many residents are left to pick up the pieces. Which brings me back to my trip to Baton Rouge.
The trip that I took was not an intentional trip. During the week of the 8th, the forecast showed continuous chances of rain. Not thinking anything of it, I continued with my daily activities throughout the week.
Being that I am a part of the generation that has their hands glued to their phone all times, I notice that little by little my Instagram timeline was shifting.
Posts of Instagram memes that said, "stop raining" turned into pictures of rainwater creeping into front yards and homes. Those pictures suddenly turned into emergency evacuation pictures. Which turned into the disaster that the nation has now seen.
For a moment it seemed that only the local news was covering this event. I personally found out through family members and social media. But suddenly, all eyes were on Baton Rouge.
As I drove to my destination my anxiety started to flare up. I began to think, “How in the world can I really help?” Pulling up to the curb of a family member who was affected, I was greeted with a warm hug, a smile, and a documented selfie.