Standing Strong in Louisiana with God's Help - Samaritan's Purse
When Tropical Storm Arthur flooded hundreds of homes in rural Louisiana, volunteers arrived within 24 hours to help families who had never seen water that high. Two months later, an entire community is rebuilding together.
Henrietta Joseph stood in her flooded home, water reaching the pockets of her jeans, and she's nearly six feet tall.
For the first time in decades, water had breached the front door of the house she shares with her niece Joyce Anderson in Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana. Tropical Storm Arthur dumped torrential rain on June 17, 2026, swelling creeks and rivers beyond anything locals had ever witnessed.
The door was so swollen from water damage that Henrietta and Joyce couldn't even open it to see what awaited them inside. Then they heard about Samaritan's Purse, a disaster relief organization that had set up operations at Hessmer Baptist Church less than 24 hours after the storm passed.
Volunteers in orange shirts soon knocked on their door, ready to tear out water-damaged drywall, remove soaked insulation, and spray for mold. The team prayed with Henrietta and Joyce before starting work and again when they finished.
"In the middle of the storm, you're never alone," Joyce reflected. "God will always send you help to get through."
Down the road, Linda and Wallace Morgan watched 57 years of memories disappear under contaminated floodwater. They had built their home together after getting married, and it had never flooded before.
Wallace hauled sandbags from dawn until 10:30 that night, trying desperately to hold back the rising water. His tomato garden, rose bushes, and pecan trees became tiny islands in the current.
When Samaritan's Purse volunteers arrived to help prepare their home for reconstruction, Linda's gratitude was immediate. "We want to thank you enormously, and thank God for sending you," she said.
The Ripple Effect
Word spread quickly through the tight-knit community. "This is a small town. Everyone knows each other," Henrietta explained. She and Joyce told everyone in their family about the help they received.
Project director Kevin McGann says this response gave his team another opportunity to serve and share hope with hurting families. The impact went beyond home repairs. Ten people have put their faith in Christ as volunteers worked alongside them.
The people of Avoyelles Parish are discovering what their parents taught them: no matter what happens, stick together because you're family.
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Based on reporting by Google: volunteers help
This story was written by BrightWire based on verified news reports.
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