Utah Red Cross volunteers head to Louisiana to help with Hurricane Ida
Aug 30, 2021, 6:22 PM | Updated: 7:10 pm
Alonzo Lewis rescues items from his mother's home after it was destroyed by Hurricane Ida on August 30, 2021 in Laplace, Louisiana. Ida made landfall August 29 as a category 4 storm southwest of New Orleans. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)
(Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY — The first of Red Cross volunteers from Utah have left for Baton Rouge after Hurricane Ida made landfall Sunday, knocking out power to all of New Orleans and parts of Louisiana.
Video showed a home in Houma — which is just southwest of New Orleans — being destroyed by the storm.
A woman from Sandy has extensive experience heading into these types of scenes.
KSL-TV caught up with her while she stopped at a gas station in Layfette.
“There is a lot of power out,” said Rayna Rogerson. “My understanding is that all of New Orleans Proper is without power and they will be for some time.”
Three Utahns from the Red Cross, including Rayna Rogerson, have been called out to help residents in Louisiana as Hurricane Ida, which was downgraded to a tropical storm Monday morning, continues to batter the Gulf Coast.
Rogerson has assisted with six other hurricane aftermaths.
“We see a lot of trees on top of houses, and sometimes, the wind will tear off roofs,” she said.
When asked if she gets scared heading into these types of situations, Rogerson said, “The unknown is always a little nerve racking.”
The Sandy woman will be helping people check-in at shelters.
She said there are some guests that particularly make the job emotional.
“Children see evidence of that was their room or their house and they’re confused,” said Rogerson. “They get to the shelter and they don’t know what’s going on. That’s hard.”
Five specially trained first responders from Utah have also deployed to the Gulf Coast to help with search and rescue efforts.
