More than 1,100 miles away working in Milwaukee, Houston Baudoin knew he needed to make it back home to check on his mom and sister following Hurricane Laura.
"They lived through the worst hurricane in this part in a long time," Baudoin said.
On Thursday, he booked the first flight to New Orleans and then rented a car to make it back home to Sulphur, not letting anything stop him.
"As soon as I saw her, I dropped everything and gave her a big hug. I knew she was heartbroken and devastated. She walked me down here, opened the door, and it took me a few minutes to walk through that threshold," he said. "This is where I grew up. This was home for 20-something years."
Robin Baudoin, Houston's mother, added, "His sister and I are so blessed to have him. He came on his own and we're a very tight family unit. The three of us are just tight and it shows. Actions speak louder than words. Boy, there he was on the doorstep."
The devastation was much more than mom and son expected.
Laura ripped off the roof, their chimney, and destroyed so much more. During the height of the storm, Houston's mom and sister rode it out in the bathroom.
Once the roof of the home came off and the eye of the storm was passing over, everyone was able to quickly run to a neighbor's house to get to safety.
"It's devastating. It leaves you with a very empty feeling, very empty. What are you going to do? But you don't even feel it in your heart because you're just numb. It's a numbing, empty feeling."
Boudoin says fortunately her son, daughter, and their friends have been able to help get priceless photos and other items out before the rebuilding process begins.
"I just wanted to make sure we have those things," said Houston. "I want to remember and those are the things I will pass down to my kids."
Houston said he is planning to stay in town as long as he needs. His mother is planning to rebuild, but next time will build a one-story home.
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