Its like we have just been forgotten. And these people around here, were angry. We are angry, she said.<\/p>\n
LAPLACE, La. The neighborhood Staci Rossbach has lived in for four years doesnt even feel familiar. Nearly a month after Ida destroyed LaPlace, the piles of drywall and ruined belongings are as high as some of the homes.<\/p>\n
Rossbach says nothing even her regular trash has been picked up in a month.<\/p>\n
Its like we have just been forgotten. And these people around here, were angry. We are angry, she said.<\/p>\n
The piles are in front of nearly every house along her street and nearby. The contents of flooded homes, now gutted, pile six to ten feet high.<\/p>\n
Im barely holding it together, she said. Im so angry that all the help that they claim is here, were not seeing it. This area is not seeing it.<\/p>\n
Rossbachs home took on three feet of floodwater during the storm. She and her family, along with three animals, could not evacuate in time.<\/p>\n
Water started pouring in through the front and back doors. Her family rushed to the attic, terrified. Soon later, a massive tree came down on the roof.<\/p>\n
She teared up recounting the fearful hours as Ida sat over their home, bringing torrential rain and devastating winds.<\/p>\n
But its hard to move forward, she said, when a month later, the evidence is still piling up at her doorstep.<\/p>\n
Every time you come out, youve got to relive it all over again. And I cant I cant do this anymore. My mind is just so its not right, she said. Were human beings like this. We shouldnt have to keep living like this.<\/p>\n
St. John the Baptist Parish has pleaded for patience. A parish spokesperson told Eyewitness News Thursday that 27 debris trucks are working parish-wide.<\/p>\n
Wednesday alone, they rid the parish of 329 loads of debris. As of Wednesday, more than 200,000 cubic yards had been removed from the parish.<\/p>\n
They say that residents can expedite the process by separating debris. Vegetation, household debris, and appliances should be separated if theyre possible.<\/p>\n
Theyre also asking residents to avoid putting debris near fire hydrants and mailboxes, which slow down the pickup process or cause damage.<\/p>\n
Metro says its trying to work on a whole other issue trash. Metro hired subcontractors last weekend to empty more cans and say they plan to do so this weekend as well.<\/p>\n
But the parish received no emergency bids for trash pickup because companies across Louisiana are stretched so thin as it is.<\/p>\n
If you talk to residents, everyone is.<\/p>\n
Im trying. Im usually a very strong person. But right now Ive got some Im shattering, said Rossbach.<\/p>\n
For her, theres no way to start a new chapter until the last one is out of her front yard.<\/p>\n
She cant get any kind of contractor or clean-up vehicle in her driveway until the piles are gone.<\/p>\n
Come here, clean it up, let us start our life again. Let us start all over again. Give us that breathing room, she said.<\/p>\n
St. John Parish says it hopes everyone in the parish will have had at least one pass from the debris truck in the next few weeks.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
See the article here: <\/p>\n
House-high debris blocks driveways and progress in Laplace - WWLTV.com<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Its like we have just been forgotten. Continue reading