Jenny Schexnyder, 52 years old, year of birth program manager at Nicholls State University who lives 30 miles outside Houma told her home withstood nearly $200,000 in damage that her insurance company largely refused to cover for months until the exchange rate changes in June under threat of litigation.
“We survived. We were driving out storm, she said. “Everything we try to repair is done so that we can feel safe. for in next storm.”
Lawyers representing the interests of two apartment buildings filed lawsuits in federal court on August 17, arguing that one Carrier Steadfast Insurance Co. refused to fully repair the damage caused by Ida. Belmer Apartments in Huma and Acadia Villas in Thibodeau says they were severely damaged during the fury of the storm.
Legal news Law360 service, which first informed on lawsuit, said the filing could be first of much like charter of restrictions on cases suitable. Three representatives for Zurich Insurance Group, a Steadfast parent corporate entity, did not respond to a letter requesting comment on claim.
‘I don’t want blow up homeless again’
Ida split homes and apartment blocks in Houma, leaving a lot people without permanent place to live in a city where the median household income was approximately $45,000 a year. year as of July 2021 – Approximately $20,000 according to the US Census Bureau national average.
The Housing Authority of Houma-Terrebonne condemned almost everything of in city517 public housing units after the storm, leaving the buildings mostly abandoned and tenants are moving out.
FEMA has stepped in try to fill the gap by setting up trailer camps throughout the parish, according to Elizabeth Daigle, 42, social working and program manager with the South Central Louisiana Human Services Administration, or SCLHSA, a local government agency.
She said at least 120 families remained in hotels or accommodation with family members while they wait for optional FEMA housing. FEMA allocated about $150 million in individual assistance to the parish, according to the arrival of the official, but many local residents still struggling find and maintain permanent residence.
“We have a housing shortage here,” said Count Hughes, director of Terrebonne Parish National Security and Emergency Preparedness office. “Even before the storm we had very little available to people who were here and the storm just made it worse issue’, he said, referring to low-income housing.
Ida hit in financially dangerous time for Amy Autin. In the first months of pandemic, 50-year- old retail store manager need to stop working and leave on disability benefits because she had painful complications due to a childhood diagnosis of scoliosis. When the storm came, she was almost overwhelmed.

The storm killed her public residential block – cracked foundation in bedroom, flood waters and mold seemingly everywhere in vision. building was convicted and she began to live in hotel room with help by Start Corp., a local non-profit organization which provides medical and psychological services.
Autin recently rented small house, but she is deeply concerned that her monthly disability checks will not be able to cover her approximately $1,000 monthly rent and basic needs for survival for much longer – and she knows that affordable housing in in area became increasingly scarce.
“I have to pay for gas, electricity, insurance, medicines, household goods, toilet paper, paper towels, ordinary needs – needs, not wants. All just so outrageous. I struggling daily.” Autin said. “I don’t want blow up homeless again”.
“Huma was my safe place,” she is added. “But now that I’m older, it’s no longer my safest place”.