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Violent Storms Take Toll on District 3 Families
After working 12-hour shifts to restore phone service to much of Louisiana in the wake of devastating storms, Bell South technicians on loan from Shreveport, Baton Rouge, Monroe, Lake Charles and other areas were returning to their homes in late October.
“Thank goodness it’s just about cleaned up,” said Liz Verret, president of local 3407 in Lake Charles. For one of Verret’s members, though, the cleanup is going to take awhile. Bell South technician Kenny Sonnier, his wife and 2-year-old daughter had their mobile home in nearby Eunice nearly destroyed.
Prepared to assist members with serious losses from Tropical Storm Isidore and Hurricane Lili, CWA Vice President Jimmy Smith quickly activated District 3’s disaster relief network.
“Though reports are still not complete, we were immediately aware of members’ suffering and wanted to do whatever we could to help them,” Smith said.
Driven by 65 mph winds, Isidore swept ashore Sept. 25 and deluged New Orleans. In some parts of the city, the waters rose to the level of car windshields.
A few days later, thousands evacuated coastal areas along the Gulf Coast in anticipation of Hurricane Lili. Though residents had braced for 145 mph winds, Lili had weakened when it came ashore on the central Louisiana coast Oct. 3. Still, its 80-100 mph winds felled trees, downed phone lines and knocked out power to 350,000 homes.
Not knowing where the hurricane would strike, BellSouth opened its facilities as shelters for employees. In Lake Charles, four hours west of New Orleans, five Local 3407 families stayed at the BellSouth office for three days while technicians continued to work. Fortunately, Sonnier left his wife Dusty and daughter Emily there during his tour. The winds ripped the roof off his mobile home in nearby Eunice and blew away much of the outer wall. “It’s a good thing it didn’t come at night,” he said, thankful they weren’t home.
He and his family are temporarily living in the office of a friend who owns a picture framing business.
With power out in the Lake Charles area and residents dependent on gasoline-powered generators, Verret said one member, Cassandra Herman, lost her grandmother to carbon monoxide poisoning from a generator set up in her garage.
In Lafayette, La., 20 miles inland from New Orleans, Cingular closed its call center for a day, allowing 475 customer representatives in Local 3406 to seek shelter. Local President Judy Bruno said members drove as far as Little Rock, Ark., and Waco, Texas, to find hotel rooms.
The Red Cross dispatched volunteers and supplies to much of the Gulf Coast region from CWA Local 3511’s union hall in Jackson, Miss. Local President Kim Sadler said the Red Cross has used its facilities in times of disaster for about 20 years.
“Thank goodness it’s just about cleaned up,” said Liz Verret, president of local 3407 in Lake Charles. For one of Verret’s members, though, the cleanup is going to take awhile. Bell South technician Kenny Sonnier, his wife and 2-year-old daughter had their mobile home in nearby Eunice nearly destroyed.
Prepared to assist members with serious losses from Tropical Storm Isidore and Hurricane Lili, CWA Vice President Jimmy Smith quickly activated District 3’s disaster relief network.
“Though reports are still not complete, we were immediately aware of members’ suffering and wanted to do whatever we could to help them,” Smith said.
Driven by 65 mph winds, Isidore swept ashore Sept. 25 and deluged New Orleans. In some parts of the city, the waters rose to the level of car windshields.
A few days later, thousands evacuated coastal areas along the Gulf Coast in anticipation of Hurricane Lili. Though residents had braced for 145 mph winds, Lili had weakened when it came ashore on the central Louisiana coast Oct. 3. Still, its 80-100 mph winds felled trees, downed phone lines and knocked out power to 350,000 homes.
Not knowing where the hurricane would strike, BellSouth opened its facilities as shelters for employees. In Lake Charles, four hours west of New Orleans, five Local 3407 families stayed at the BellSouth office for three days while technicians continued to work. Fortunately, Sonnier left his wife Dusty and daughter Emily there during his tour. The winds ripped the roof off his mobile home in nearby Eunice and blew away much of the outer wall. “It’s a good thing it didn’t come at night,” he said, thankful they weren’t home.
He and his family are temporarily living in the office of a friend who owns a picture framing business.
With power out in the Lake Charles area and residents dependent on gasoline-powered generators, Verret said one member, Cassandra Herman, lost her grandmother to carbon monoxide poisoning from a generator set up in her garage.
In Lafayette, La., 20 miles inland from New Orleans, Cingular closed its call center for a day, allowing 475 customer representatives in Local 3406 to seek shelter. Local President Judy Bruno said members drove as far as Little Rock, Ark., and Waco, Texas, to find hotel rooms.
The Red Cross dispatched volunteers and supplies to much of the Gulf Coast region from CWA Local 3511’s union hall in Jackson, Miss. Local President Kim Sadler said the Red Cross has used its facilities in times of disaster for about 20 years.