A Year Later....

I would love to tell you that after the flood water completely receded that life got back to normal. And I guess in a way it did. It became the new normal. Everyone now speaks in "before the flood..." and "after/since the flood...". It's become a defining time in our community's timeline.
E dealt with PTSD for several weeks after the flood and wouldn't let me or Rob out of his sight. He cried every time we turned down the road where Rob's truck flooded. Our insurance company was more than fair in their settlement for Rob's truck. He was able to use the money to buy a "new" truck. Our neighbors' "few days" stay lasted two months. Their house is still not completely finished but it's getting there. I ended up going back to work 5 weeks after the flood and the school year was altered to make up for lost time. We qualified for D-SNAP (a disaster food assistance program) and our church was inundated with donations so we never went without. While many struggled because they had lost so much, the Lord graciously blessed us so we were able to donate money, furniture, plastic tubs, food, mold spray and ~most importantly~ our time to help so many in need.

A year later the community is still in repair. I read somewhere that, after a natural disaster of the flood's magnitude, it takes up to two years to fully recover. I believe it. We have gotten used to not having all the conveniences we previously had. Within the past year, businesses have closed their doors and walked away completely (Baskin-Robbins, Pretend Play, Popeyes). Other businesses took months to repair and reopen their business (Starbucks, Walmart, Big Mikes). Some are still abandoned and yet to be determined whether they will reopen (Wendy's, Subway). And yet some businesses have been torn down and new ones are taking the place of the old business (Western Store, Shell gas station, Winn Dixie). The same can be said about homeowners. FEMA trailers can be seen in almost every neighborhood. Debris piles still sit, waiting to be picked up. Sadly, the flood left a lot of trash behind that has yet to be picked up.
But, after seeing how strong the community came together (Cajun Navy, anyone??) I have no doubt that it will be rebuilt better than ever. It may take more time, but I am excited for what the future holds for DS! It's been a long year but it's also been a year of growth and strength. One that has made me appreciate a place I barely liked for the first two years here. And I won't forget to give God the glory for it all!

Here are pictures that were taken this past weekend so they are about as recent as you can get: