An Interview with Mr. Vasken Kaltakjian, Chairman of the Baton Rouge, LA, mission parish

The Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern) has spoken at length with Vasken Kaltakjian, chairman of the Baton Rouge, Louisiana, mission parish, who offered the following information about how the local Armenian community has been affected by Hurricane Katrina.

NO LOSS OF LIFE, SIGNIFICANT LOSS OF LIVELIHOOD

First and most importantly, there has been no loss of life among the local Armenian families. There has been a substantial loss of property due to wind, rain, and flooding. And the Armenians who run businesses in New Orleans expect that those businesses are lost or in ruins–which obviously may leave the greatest long term consequence for community members.

Armenian residents of New Orleans itself, and its suburbs Kenner and Metarree, have been evacuated; their properties remain flooded. In general, people who left New Orleans did so with very little in the form of personal property, cash, or clothing, since they expected the crisis would endure for only a matter of days. Armenians in La Place were not affected by the flood, but their houses did suffer significant wind and rain damage. Electrical power is now operating in La Place, and displaced families have begun congregating there.

HOUSING DISPLACED FAMILIES

Baton Rouge and La Place are the two main locales where displaced Armenian families have been domiciled. Mr. Kaltakjian attests that conditions in Baton Rouge are relatively “normal,” given the circumstances elsewhere in the state; but the resources of the area are strained by the influx of refugees from the disaster zone. In the immediate aftermath of the hurricane, the Armenian residents of Baton Rouge hosted four Armenian families–two of which have already moved on to stay with relatives in La Place. Other families have been notified and welcomed to come to Baton Rouge.

Mr. Kaltakjian has driven to La Place, LA, where four Armenian families permanently reside. These four households are currently housing five additional Armenian families, which have escaped from hurricane-ravaged areas. With phone service out, it had been difficult to get information on the five displaced families. Mr. Kaltakjian visited with the families, confirmed that they were accounted for, and tried to assess their situation with regard to relief needs.

Several Armenian families remain incommunicado; Mr. Kaltakjian is aware that they have left the disaster area, but he has not been able to confirm their current whereabouts. He expects to receive this information as soon as normal phone service resumes.

BRIEF RETURNS HOME TO INSPECT DAMAGE

Earlier in the week, authorities designated a 12-hour window to allow every home-owner in New Orleans to return temporarily to their homes, inspect damage, and take pictures to submit insurance claims. Only a few of the affected Armenian families were able to enter the city, however.

For those who have been able to return to their homes, many report that everything is flooded, and stench is already oppressive. Moreover, people are worried that all the rancid standing water will propagate and spread disease. Today Mr. Kaltakjian plans to bring a generator and gasoline to one family, whose house now stands in two and a-half feet of water, so they can start the long process of cleaning up.

As far as a permanent return, no one knows exactly when this will be able to occur; the authorities have stipulated the anywhere from two to six weeks may elapse before people are allowed to return home. In any event, currently there is no electric or water service in the disaster area.

LOCAL CHURCH REACHING OUT TO MEMBERS

The Baton Rouge mission parish owns a church facility of 4,000 square feet