re: Laura - President Trump visits Lake Charles, Louisiana for Hurricane Response Update

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Lake Street is an utter disaster. Prien Lake Park Area looks like the battle of Bastogne.

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Driving through there, the smell of pine is incredible.

A friend of mine from Texas was amazed when he moved here and people would use Rita as a reference to a point in time. “Before the storm.”

Now he gets it though because this will be the new “storm.” He asked if this was worse than Rita and I said the flossing was worse with Rita, but the wind damage and overall damage is worse this time.

Damn passing through Jennings today I figured they would have power before Welsh easily

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A few of my friends have already told me the conditions of their shops and I also know of a few others that won’t be back “in business” for a long fricking time because of damage.

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My uncle probably falls into this category. Entire side of his shop blew out.

I live off of Lake. It's really bad, so is most of what we saw driving in.

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Those of you who were in that area for Rita as well, how would you say new construction faired versus older construction that survived Rita without having to be rebuilt? Particularly, how do newer commercial buildings look like they faired compared to those after Rita?

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Meh, comparing apples to cherries here. On one hand, it’s apparent from pics of Cameron, Holly Beach, etc. that some of the new construction fared much better. On the other, Laura didn’t discriminate and wiped out just about everything, including buildings and trees that withstood Rita. Thing I remember most about Rita in LCH was trees... trees fricking EVERYWHERE. Tons of pines, snapped. Laura TWISTED trees that survived Rita - SO many trees twisted to the point of just shredding.

Everyone had tarps after Rita because of falling trees/limbs. Most tarps for Laura will be for sheer wind damage. Majority of homes I’ve seen thus far look like an excavator just scraped huge sections of roofs down to bare wood. High lines, radio towers, etc. are just bent over like foil. New construction, old construction, Laura just tore through it. The wind damage is exponentially worse from Laura than Rita. I don’t think building codes made or would’ve made a difference. shite, Laura tore brick off and punctured homes - with WIND. My dad’s chimney (~5yo construction) got blown over TOWARD the house - not away - think of the force it takes to do that.

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FEMA and Red Cross just bused in some of the finest North Lake Charles/Gosport has to offer and gave them free hotel vouchers. A group of them just got busted up by the state police for smoking blunts and harassing people on the corner and they aren't even checked in/processed yet. There's about 200 of them standing outside waiting for their rooms.

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Payback’s a bitch.

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better understand improvements that are needed for new construction going forward

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I will say this: we’ll never learn our lesson on above ground utilities.

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I have 2 5 gal cans ill give you if you need them. Got power 2 hrs ago and dont need them. If you want gas in them ill buy it.

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Thanks. We got it resolved and I am making a run Sunday to bring them some more.

I truly appreciate everyone that reached out to help. Very awesome.

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Looks like we will be moving hotels. It's a shame too because this place is pet friendly, has a kitchen since we were planning on being here a while and I like the area.

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Have a neighbor with an STR and full kitchen. Isn't as close to Harrahs, but not sure how long your plans to stay here are.

I understand that. Imagine hotel living gets old real quick.