Disaster Description
New Iberia is a large town in the midst of an agricultural region of southern Louisiana. It also services the off shore oil industry. This area is flat land and rises very gradually from the coastline.

Hurricane Rita came onshore September 24, 2005 bringing only minor wind and rain damage. However, six hours after the storm had passed, an 11-foot tidal surge that had build up in the Gulf came on shore. Because of the flat land that gradually rises from the coast, houses as far as 30 miles inland were flooded, damaging the contents and the interior structures. MDS began a project site in new Iberia in January of 2006 and left the area the end of February, 2007.

New Iberia was affected by two more hurricanes in the 2008 hurricane season. Gustav came onshore on the Louisiana coastline on September 1, 2008. Although Gustav's impact wasn't as bad as expected, New Iberia experienced some flooding, wind damage and power outages. A little over a week later, Hurricane Ike hit with a storm surge reminiscent of Rita's. Many homes were damaged all over again.

MDS returned to New Iberia in the winter of 2009 and rebuild three homes. A Partnership Home Program house was completed also. MDS Partnered with Southern Mutual Help Association and volunteers stayed at the Four Corners Community Development Center in Franklin.

MDS will return to New Iberia in the fall of 2011.

New Iberia, LA
MDS

c/o Big Four Corners Community Dev. Center

1361 Big Four Corners Road

Franklin, LA 70538

Project Director: Norm and Carolyn Ringenberg

Tel: (717) 823-0591

e-mail: newiberiarv(at)mds.mennonite.net

Project Start Date: January 2006

RV Statistics

Project is closed

Volunteers to Date: 16

Jobs Started: 3

Jobs Completed: 2

Project End Date: March 2, 2012

Volunteer Information:  Please download and read the files listed below if you are planning and preparing for travel to work in New Iberia.

Volunteer Information

Welcome to New Iberia

Volunteers to Date: 8