The Voice of Southwest Louisiana December 2017 Issue

SWLA news
Mission
Possible
Cajun
Navy
The Cajun Navy Relief
being honored at the
Cancer Awareness Walk
in Beaumont, Texas
Relief
Shining the Light (Contributed Article)
We can all vividly remember
the hurricanes that crashed
onto Louisiana’s shores
in 2005. The government’s limited
resources to help the state conduct
rescue missions gave birth to The
Cajun Navy. Fast forward to 2016, the
floods that inundated Baton Rouge
and surrounding areas gave birth to
a more diversified mission called the
Cajun Navy Relief. Their multifaceted
assistance approach has set them aside
from other disaster relief entities.
The Cajun Navy Relief is a 501
(c)3 organization. The nonprofit
organization is made-up of men
and women volunteers who
dedicate their time (endless
hours, seven days a week),
resources, finances and energy
to assist and rebuild the lives of
people during a disaster.
On August 26, 2017, with the help of
Zello (phone app) approximately 200
volunteers with boats, canoes, trucks
and rescue equipment met under
the awning of the Civic Center to
strategize a rescue mission plan. Mike
Reid (former law enforcement) led
the group and efficiently dispatched
volunteers across Louisiana and Texas.
Shortly after the rescue missions began,
additional assistance and resources
began to arrive from across the United
States.
Mike Reid, Jason Waymire, Linda
Clark-Fonda, Jeff Mott, and Tommy
McClelland, a group of Lake Charles
volunteers who became involved
during Hurricane Harvey remain
involved today. Ms. Linda (Clark Bail
Bonds) and Carl Webb traveled to
Rockport, TX to distribute eleven pallets
of water and mixed supplies. Mike Reid
leads The Cajun Navy Relief in Lake
Charles, LA, overseeing various disaster
relief work sites across Louisiana and
Texas.
Disaster relief efforts began with Phase
I encompassing rescue missions and
resource distribution. Distribution sites
stocked items from food (baby, pet) and
water to household items (blankets,
air mattresses, generators, fans, and
blowers). Phase II is in effect, rehabbing
homes (mudding out and installing
sheetrock) in the Terrace area of Lake
Charles. Phase III is in the planning
stage with more resources being
identified. Community distribution will
begin in the near future.
The Cajun Navy Relief has gained the
support of the community across
Louisiana and Texas and has created
strong partnerships. The Church of the
King (Lake Charles, LA) provided their
warehouse as a main distribution site
which allows volunteers (with trucks/
trailers) to continue to haul resources
to other warehouses, churches
and residential homes throughout
southeast Texas and Louisiana. The
Voluntary Organizations Active in
Disaster (VOAD) has provided financial
support and resources. The Cajun Navy
Relief has recruited skilled volunteers
and secured resources from local
businesses. They have been honored
for their commitment; Church of the
King and Open Gate Church in Lake
Charles, LA as well as the Thanksgiving
Parade in Houston, Texas.
The Cajun Navy Relief understands that
we can only depend on a unified effort
to rebuild communities and that’s why
they are “Getting it Done!”
If you have been affected and need
assistance due to the floods or
Hurricane Harvey, contact the Cajun
Navy Relief website, Cajunnavyrelief.
com or Church of the King (Lake
Charles) website, Churchoftheking.us
for assistance.
6 December 2017 WWW.THEVOICEOFSOUTHWESTLA.COM Volume 5 • Number 5