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Extreme New Orleans
Lousiana
The Useas Family, Westwego, Lousiana
The city of Westwego has had a tough couple of years to say the least. They have been hit by a series of hurricanes, tornadoes and flooding. These natural disasters have devastated the homes and lives of those living there. Among one of the hardest hit is the Usea family.
Brad and Laura Usea had upwards of $15,000 worth of damage to their home after Katrina hit. The hurricane totaled Brad's mother's house leaving her as well as his older brother Chris and Brad's twin brother Chad homeless. Brad and Laura opened up their home to all of them.
In February of 2007 Westwego was hit by tornadoes in the wee hours of the morning. At the time, 37-year old Chris Usea was living in a Fema trailer behind his brother Brad's house. The trailer flew across the backyard and Chris was thrown from it. That same night, Brad heard frantic screaming and ran next door to help rescue his neighbors who trapped in their own Fema trailer.
Coming to the rescue is in the Usea's blood. Both Brad and his twin brother are volunteer firefighters for the City of Westwego. Through each natural disaster these twin heroes stopped at nothing to ensure the safety of their family and community.
After the dust settled, the Useas have found themselves a family of 5 adults and 2 small children crowded in a home damaged both from Katrina and the tornadoes. The ceiling in Chris's temporary bedroom is falling down. Grandma Grace is staying in her 4-year old granddaughter Abby's Tinkerbell room. Brad's twin, Chad, sleeps on the couch in the living room.
The twins, Brad and Chad are doing their best to help the city of Westwego rebuild again after the all of the devastating storms that have torn their community apart. In the process, this family is living on top of each other in Brad's family home.
By giving this family a bigger home, Brad and Laura will have the space they need to raise their family and Chris, Brad and Grandma Grace will regain their independence.
Noah's Ark Missionary Baptist Church, New Orleans, Lousiana
Pastor Willie Walker is the pastor of Noah's Ark Missionary Baptist church. Noah's Ark has been serving the needy community of New Orleans for 60 years. Since Willie Walker was instilled as the church's Pastor in 1998, he has become a local hero. Through his ministry, Willie has made an concerted effort to clean up the streets of New Orleans by helping the people most needy – addicts, AIDS patients, homeless and the poor. He became a father figure to the people of New Orleans that chose the wrong path. He made everyone feel equal and welcome. It is his mission in life to help people and this mission was put to the test when Katrina Slammed into New Orleans.
After making sure his own family was safe Pastor Willie risked his life by going back to the devastation to help rescue hundreds. He saved countless lives. Thanks to his efforts there are entire families that are alive today to sing his praises.
More than 2 years after Katrina, Pastor Willie is still working hard to help the victims of this devastating natural disaster and some feel his accomplishments have been nothing short of miraculous. But the one miracle Pastor Willie hadn't been able to achieve was rebuilding his beloved church.
With EMHE's help this extraordinary Pastor and his congregation leveled the hurricane-ravaged church and rebuilt from the ground up; making not only a place to worship, but also a place of refuge for the entire community.
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