Baton Rouge Louisiana Flood Recovery

Contact for Scheduling/Questions: Brian Rourke, Volunteer Coordinator, Fuller Center Disaster ReBuilders, 225-284-1123, rourke11@yahoo.com

Volunteer work teams that sign up to serve in Baton Rouge may apply for a scholarship (grant) to help defray their expenses: Click here.

Disaster Event Information: Massive flooding occurred in the Baton Rouge, La., area in August 2016. This flood from 24 hours of torrential rainfall damaged 154,000 homes. Some have called it a 1,000-year weather phenomenon. As another measure of the magnitude, 22 parishes flooded to the extent they qualified for FEMA assistance. Livingston Parish was one of the hardest hit. Not surprisingly between 50 percent and 80 percent of the homeowners (depending on the area) did not have flood insurance.

To put this flood in perspective, Superstorm Sandy damaged or destroyed 350,000 homes. The August flood is definitely a hurricane-sized disaster.

Estimates vary but full recovery is expected to take at least three years.

Project/Focus: Using volunteers and donated funds, rebuilding homes in Livingston Parish for the low-income and uninsured. Priority is given to the elderly, handicapped, veterans and single parent families.

The construction tasks are generally interior only replacing insulation, sheetrock, painting, flooring, cabinets, doors and trim, etc. Construction leadership is on-site but skilled individuals on the team are always much appreciated.

Time: Arrive Sunday and depart the following Saturday. Sunday evening is orientation. Work Monday – Friday 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Accommodations: Our camp is located at 10607 Cassle Rd, Denham Springs, LA 70726 in the middle of a small horse farm. We have a spacious four-bedroom bunkhouse with beds to accommodate 26 volunteers. The dining hall and kitchen are close by in a converted barn with cedar and cypress walls and rescued heart pine floors.

Volunteers should bring their own linens for the single mattresses. Laundry facilities are available.

Cost: $165/person/week covers room and board. All meals provided: Breakfast is continental, sack lunch, and a hot dinner. Click here to apply for a scholarship (grant) from UCC Disaster Ministries, available to work teams that sign up to serve in Baton Rouge.

Minimum Age: 16

Group Size: 25 maximum

Adult to Youth Ratio: For youth under 18, we ask for one adult per three teens.

Tools: We ask individuals to bring their personal tools: cordless screw gun (if available), hammer, screwdriver, utility knife, tape measure, etc. We have a good supply of power tools but always appreciate additional tools if possible.