Three weeks after Hurricane Laura, the cleanup continues across Southwest Louisiana. That includes parts of Vermilion Parish that were hit hard by the storm.
"They think the water got to about right here, and the drift or debris on top of the water got to about here," said Natalie Broussard.
Broussard and her family returned to their Pecan Island home immediately after Laura.
"We actually had to stop two or three miles east to get on four-wheelers, to drive over the drift on top of 81," she said.
Broussard said in her 20 years of living here, this is the most drift she has ever seen left behind by a storm.
"We're not sure why the drift piled up this way. It saved my neighbor Mr. Trahan and my brother, because I think if it wouldn't have stayed here, it would have pushed and they would have gotten damage."
For perspective, I'm 5'3". Piles of debris are well over my head and they go on for miles.
"This will probably be here for a month," added Broussard.
Now, DOTD crews are helping to clear the debris.
Deidra Druilhet, Public Information Officer for DOTD, explained, "So far, we have been out here a few weeks. So that lets you know the amount of time that it takes to pick up debris in areas hit hard."
As for Broussard, no storm will send her away.
"Been here 20 years," she said. "I don't know, I just don't like to be in the city."
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