Robert Owens felt defeated and helpless on Sunday as he waited in the Louisiana capital for the fall of one of the most powerful hurricanes to hit the United States.
The 27-year-old had spent distressed days watching long queues of cars evacuate of Baton Rouge, bound for safer places outside the state as Hurricane Ida approached. He had hoped that he and his wife, his mother-in-law, a roommate, and four pets would be among them. But leaving would have required money for gas and a hotel room, which they did not have.
In desperation, Owens went to ACE Cash Express on Saturday and filed documents for a payday loan. He refused, after telling her he didn’t have enough credit history.
On Sunday, it was clear they would be coming out of the storm at home in his family’s duplex apartment.
“Our bank account is empty, we can’t afford to leave,” he said.
Owens said most people in his low-income neighborhood are in the same situation. They want to leave to protect the families, but they have no choice but to stay.
“Many of us here in my neighborhood have to wait and wait, not knowing how bad it will be. It’s a terrifying feeling, “he said.
“There people who have funds to support themselves can get out of here, but there are a lot of people on lower incomes who don’t have a savings account,” he continued. “We’re lagging behind.”
He said the neighborhood was quiet daily and the winds increased the speed and the rain started to fall.
Owens said he spent the day in a hurry placing towels on leaking windows in his duplex and loading electronics. He tried to go to Dollar General and Dollar Tree to pick up food, but they were locked up. Her family has lights stuck to the walls of the house. They planned to hide in the laundry room or kitchen when the storm came, places without windows.
“There’s a general feeling of fear at not knowing what the outcome of this will be,” he said. “It simply came to our notice then. What will we do if it gets really bad? Will we still be alive? Will a tree fall on us? “
Owens said his mother-in-law has a disability. Both roommates work for Apple iOS technical support. His wife works scheduling blood donations. They all rely on the Internet to work from home and if they leave, they will not be able to contribute money.
“We could be out of work and rent, energy, water and all those bills will still have to be charged,” he said. “We’re a little worried about losing our utilities or even our house (if it’s still standing) because we won’t have the money for any other bill.”
He said it’s hard to feel so vulnerable, like his family is left behind.
“The fact that we are not middle class or upper class again bites us again and again, in so many different directions and ways; one of them is a simple advance of pay days,” he said. “It’s like we have to pay to be poor, even though we try not to be poor.”
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Leah Willingham is a member of the body of the Associated Press / Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a national non-profit services program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on covert topics.