Red Cross Helps 50+ Families After Louisiana Tornadoes

The morning after tornadoes ripped through southeast Louisiana, Red Cross volunteers knocked on Justin St. Mard's door with help he didn't know was coming.

Just hours earlier, Justin had been watching a movie with his mother when a loud crack interrupted the quiet evening. A massive tree crashed through their Hammond home's roof, collapsing the ceiling two feet from where his mother sat.

"When I woke up this morning, I didn't expect to get a call from the Red Cross," Justin said. "I'm glad y'all came."

His story is one of many unfolding across St. Tammany and Tangipahoa parishes, where severe weather damaged homes and left families facing uncertain futures. The Red Cross mobilized immediately, supporting more than 50 people across 18 households with financial assistance, emergency supplies, and dedicated caseworkers.

Ellis Neal was inside his 100-year-old Hammond home when a massive oak tree came crashing down. The impact crushed multiple rooms and knocked out his power, leaving him to watch the food in his fridge and freezer spoil.

"There's no telling how long my power will be off," Ellis said. Red Cross volunteers arrived with financial support to help replace his lost food and other immediate needs.

In Fulker, Cynthia Boykins had ignored the tornado warning on her phone, thinking it was like all the others. But this time was different.

The tornado left her home uninhabitable, blocked her driveway with fallen trees, and scattered power lines across her property. When Red Cross volunteers found her, they loaded her car with water, snacks, hygiene items, and emergency supplies.

"Thank you all. You have helped me so much," Cynthia said, grateful her family was safe.

The Ripple Effect

Every family that received help also got something more: a dedicated caseworker who will stay connected throughout their recovery journey. This ongoing support means families won't have to navigate insurance claims, temporary housing, or mental health resources alone.

The volunteers who showed up the morning after the storm weren't strangers from far away. They were local community members who chose to walk alongside their neighbors during one of life's hardest moments.

Across southeast Louisiana, families are beginning to rebuild piece by piece, knowing they don't have to do it alone.