Evolving Cajun Navy will continue to help

There was a public meeting at Evangeline Oak last Wednesday, called by members of the “Cajun Navy.”
Doug Bienvenu is the founder of the loosely-organized civilian rescue group that rose to prominence during Hurricane Katrina. He and other local residents brought their own airboats and skiffs to New Orleans and succeeded in rescuing hundreds of stranded residents from flooded houses and roof tops. Bienvenu and the Cajun Navy were the subject of a book by Trent Angers and a documentary film by Allan Durand.
Bienvenu and others expressed frustration at the lack of cooperation from officials who, they say, disregarded and impeded private citizens’ efforts. During Katrina flooding, the official response was generally thought to be too slow in bringing distressed residents out of areas like the Lower Ninth Ward.
Also speaking at the sparsely-attended meeting was Billy Broussard of St. Martinville. Not a Cajun Navy member, he was involved in the Indian Bayou clean-up after 2006 flooding in Calcasieu Parish. His emphasis was on identifying the causes of the recent flood event. He and Bienvenu maintain that flooding was made worse by a lack of maintenance to drainage ditches and waterways.
Broussard and Bienvenu both say that a build-up of logs and other debris, as well as silting, is partly responsible for the extent of the disaster. They say that cleaning and dredging of the Bayou Teche is needed to prevent a recurrence.
Mike Fuselier, St. Martinville District 1 council representative, was the only government official at the meeting. He said the Corps of Engineers and state agencies control those waterways and undertakings like dredging are far beyond the ability or jurisdiction of local government.
Furthermore, he said that the city and parish actually spend as much time clearing and maintaining drainage ditches as budget and manpower limits allow. Record rainfalls, in excess of what is considered a “1,000 year” event, he said, were the cause of the flooding. He said that costly and problematic projects like dredging would not prevent floods if similar rainfall levels occurred again.
Broussard and Bienvenu said that flood-affected local residents want practical explanations and solutions. They maintain that descriptions of the event as an “act of God” are a cop-out and are not sufficient to reassure the public that enough is being done.
The two expressed frustration over the refusal of government officials to include them in the process and aid their efforts. They believe they are the ones with knowledge about the waterways and can see problems that lead to flooding. They say they have been excluded from meetings and that the cost to operate an airboat in flooded areas is much too expensive for a private citizen.
Bienvenu said that recent statements from state senator Jonathan Perry that Cajun Navy members should be licensed and required to pay fees was the last straw. He said he will no longer be involved in rescue efforts.
Leo Martin of New Roads also identifies himself as a Cajun Navy member, but he and Bienvenu had never met until Wednesday afternoon. While also expressing some frustration in dealing with officials, Martin said that he and his group will continue their privately-funded efforts. He said they are working to improve coordination among citizen groups and with government agencies. They report that they are working to make their response more efficient through centralized dispatching and organized preparation for emergencies.
Martin told the Teche News that his group switched to relief efforts as soon as rescue was no longer needed. So far, they have shipped more than 300,000 meals as well as truck loads of water and cleaning supplies from New Orleans. They are organizing into a 501(c)3 non-profit at this time, so apparently the Cajun Navy will sail on to the next disaster.