Hurricane Ida hits home for those with Louisiana roots

SANTA BARBARA, Calif.

When Hurricane Ida made landfall over the weekend a Louisiana native who owns The Big Easy Catering Company in Santa Barbara was already planning a trip to see the Saints play the Packers on September 12.

The game may be moved out of state, but David Postada still plans to go.

"We are going to do a road trip back, when we get there we will wait and see what they need right now what they need is electricity." said Postada.

He plans to bring some generators to help.

Postada volunteered to cook during Hurricane Katrina, 16 years ago, but ended up donating the cost of meals instead.

He is concerned about low lying areas and the famous French Quarter.

"The French Quarter will be a big priority because it is like Santa Barbara, we make our money on tourists, and that type of thing and that is what the french quarter is the bread and butter of the commerce section of New Orleans, so they need to get that back up and running," said Postada.

He recently checked on another friend from New Orleans who lives on a boat in the Santa Barbara Harbor during the hurricane season.

Al Salzer, who worked in Hollywood film production for decades, owns the 24-hour Deja Vu Restaurant and Bar in the French Quarter and the building where it is located.

Salzer said he employees about 25 people and has had trouble getting through to his staff by phone, but he recently learned they are all okay.

His other home is on the water there and may have some damage.

"It has happened to me before, the prospect of a category four was rather scary, and it only hit about 35-40 miles from my boat house and I live in front of the levees so I expect flooding but I only had about four feet and the upstairs living quarter was safe so I'm thankful," said Salzer.

He now plans to stay put until the electricity returns to the area, which could take weeks.

Both men recommend donating to help with the recovery.

Postada recommends Direct Relief and Salzer said. "You can't go wrong with the Red Cross."

For more information visit directrelief.org and look for the Hurricane Ida Response tab or www.redcross.org.