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Carol’s story
When Carol Antoine evacuated for Katrina, she took her family to Shreveport, LA where her company owned another branch. They spent only 2 nights in Shreveport, and then moved to a couple other locations before settling in a FEMA trailer outside their home. When they arrived they found that the water was so high that it settled in the attic. The ceiling had caved in and everything was completely destroyed.
Camp Restore volunteers worked on Carol’s home for the next two years while her and her family lived in the FEMA trailer. “It was a challenge,” she remembers. “I’ll never own a futon again.” She estimated less than 1/4 of her original neighbors moved back to the neighborhood. She describes it as “creepy” and “spooky” with no one around, and definitely lonely. Sometimes strangers would use abandoned houses to cause trouble, making Carol uneasy.
Even though Katrina destroyed many things, it also created new opportunities. The volunteers who came and worked on Carol’s house for spring break instead of spending it on a beach or relaxing somewhere else made a deep impact on her. “Through Camp Restore we’ve met so many nice people,” she said. Carol and her daughter created many lasting friendships with the volunteers that worked on their house. Though many only visited for a week, the Antoines formed strong bonds and still keep in touch with many. Today they are living in their fully restored home, thanks to the volunteers at Camp Restore. “It’s amazing how much they put in to help people.”