After Hurricanes Hit, The Helping Hand is Extended

By Jayson Braud, Iota Delta/Southeastern Louisiana University

As the coast of Louisiana watched Hurricane Gustav take aim, everyone here wondered if this storm would be worst than Hurricane Katarina. Over 1.9 million people fled the coast not to make the mistake that most made three years ago. Most of the brothers of the Iota Delta Chapter decided that we were going to leave to be with our families through the storm.

My family lives in a small town called Livonia, Louisiana (in between Baton Rouge, Louisiana and Lafayette, Louisiana). I remember calling my dad up and asking him if he wanted me to come home and help out before the storm. He told me not to worry, stay in Hammond and if he needed anything he would call.

As the storm made landfall, it caused major damage from Houma, Louisiana all the way Alexandria, Louisiana. Power outages, wind damage, and flooding occurred all over our state. Hammond received some wind gust up to 80 mph, and there were massive power outages and tons of falling trees, but for the most part we made it through OK. I would call my family in Livonia about every hour to check on them and they would reassure me that they were fine and told me not to worry.

After the storm passed, communication was difficult for everybody. I remember trying to call my family back home to no avail. I became very frustrated and decided to call the Livonia Police Department. When I got through, I asked them about my house and they told me the entire town was hit very hard to try again to call my family directly. Two days later I got in touch with my sister and she told me the bad news.

Water flooded all of our downstairs and we lost everything that was there. The family was OK, but they never imaged that storm would be this bad. She also told me that there wasn’t any power lines standing in a thirty mile radius. I was in shock. All our personal belonging was gone. I was thankful that my family was safe, but it was a very sobering experience. I asked my dad when he wanted me to come in to Livonia to help with the clean up. He said when the water resided, he would call. Word spread through the chapter about my family in Livonia and all the brothers were very supportive.

My dad asked me if I knew any people who could come help me for a day with the clean-up, I knew the people I could count on, my brothers in Theta Chi Fraternity. I sent a text message out to the undergraduate and alumni chapter of Iota Delta Chapter for help. Every brother responded to me. Most also had damage in some way, but several brothers volunteered their time to help my family out.

When we pulled up into Livonia, my dad face dropped. He couldn’t believe that many people came to help out. We worked all day tearing down sheet rock, moving items that were damaged, and throwing away everything we couldn’t keep. This could have been a sad day for me, but my brothers just being there made me realize that joining this fraternity was the best decision I have ever made.

My family is doing better now and our home is about to be rebuilt.

I will never forget how the brothers of Iota Delta Chapter of Theta Chi Fraternity helped me and my family out in our time of need. They will never realize how much those coming meant to me.

Love and Respect All Your Brothers!