LaPlace, La. - Flood victims in St. John Parish spent the day pulling up carpet, cutting out drywall and piling their water-soaked belongings on the curb.
Some say they're numb. Others are angry and worried about what the future holds.
John Vincent lives in Indigo Lakes Estates, just off Highway 51 in LaPlace. He recalls the night the water just kept coming: "We went out to the road and it was about up to here [pointing to his chest] on me when I went out to the road and we knew we were in trouble."
When Vincent returned to his home days later, he realized the damage was significant. "Furniture-wise, it's ruined at the bottom after it sits in the water," said Vincent.
He spent the day pulling up carpet and salvaging what he could. "We've been here 15 years and it's never flooded like this," he said.
As the debris piles up, so do the questions from flood victims. People want to know what will happen with their insurance policies after this disaster. They also want to know what will be done to keep this from happening again.
Vincent is worried about his insurance policy. "That's the main concern for everybody. It's getting to the point the way insurance is getting that people can't afford a house anymore."
Jeb Arcement lives just down the street. He's been in his home 22 years and never expected to come home to flood damage. He's an artist and lost irreplaceable paintings. He wants to know when something will be done to keep this from happening again.
"Considering building storm protection for St. John," said Arcement. "If they're going to do it everywhere else and leave this open, what they are doing is leaving this part of Lake Maurepas and Ponchartrain with no protection."
While residents in Indigo Lakes Estates wait for answers, they push on with the painful and exhausting clean-up.
"But you know what," said Arcement. "I'm not looking back. I'm just looking forward. Because if you don't, it'll mentally destroy you and I don't want that to happen. That's not going to benefit me or my family or anybody."
