KPLC 7 News, Lake Charles, Louisiana |Cameron Parish Moving Forward

Cameron Parish Moving Forward

October 16, 2005
Reported by Lee Peck

For all practical purposes Cameron Parish is now officially closed to residents, so officials can begin major clean-up operations. Sunday ended the parish's three day "look and leave" phase, at least until further notice.

"It's devastating, it's discouraging," says Milton Theriot, "you've been here all you life and you come and see something like this and it's just awful."

Milton Theriot searches through what's left of his home of nearly 50 years. "We've been here since '56, Audrey took us in '57 and then we rebuilt back and we've been here ever since."

He salvages what he can, "we used to collect these mugs, we found some but there's a lot of them that are broken, couldn't find them all."

Hurricane Rita has left her mark. "For Audrey this was all clean, we didn't have to clean anything, but we've got a lot of cleaning to do." A lot to do, but not enough time. "Yesterday was the first time I had been here, I had not been able to come before, yesterday and again today. If I'm going to go through what's left back there I'm going to need more time."

Cameron Parish Police Jury President, Scott Trahan says, officials are working to extend the look and leave phase. "We're having a Police Jury meeting Monday at 1:30 in the Grand Lake gymnasium and we'll discuss extending the 'look and leave.' there's people that need more time."

But Trahan says, in order for major clean-up to happen the parish will remain closed during the week. "The corps is going to be here on Wednesday cleaning public roads and public right of ways. There will be some time before we look into cleaning other areas."

Residents can rest assured there homes will not be touched, however Trahan is calling on insurance adjusters to come out and assess the damage. "We just need them out here. If y'all are out there and y'all are listening get your agents out here to help our people."

Because Trahan says, the people of Cameron will return. "The trees are getting greener every day, the grass is getting greener every day. The birds are back, we're going to be back. And hopefully everbody comes back to Cameron."

"We'll probably be back one day," says Milton Theriot, "we'll have something here to sit under."