Folks in the Cape Fear sending help to Louisiana flood victims

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Thousands of people are living in shelters after severe floods forced them to flee their homes in southern Louisiana.

Several people in the cape fear are now trying to help.

For Wilmington resident Darby Jackson, images of Livingston Louisiana hit a little too close to home.

“Katie is my sister,” Jackson said. “We are not blood at all. She was raised two doors down from me my entire life.”

Jackson said her childhood friend Katie Beal moved to Livingston from Wilmington a few years ago.

“Katie checked in on Saturday as safe,” Jackson said.

Jackson said just a few hours later, Beal and her eight-month-old baby Nora were no longer safe.

“Checked in safe at 5:00 and at 9:00 Katie and Nora were being rescued by a boat,” Jackson said.

Jackson said they left everything behind.

“Their house was completely under water,” Jackson said. “Their car was completely under water. Left with nothing on their backs, no diapers, no clothes. She got her birth certificate and her social security card for her and the baby and that was it.”

For the pastor of Lighthouse in Rocky Point Jeff Daw, a Facebook post from Bethany Church in Baton Rouge called out to him.

“Saw that they had many church people that were in need,” Daw said.

Daw said their pastor, Jonathan Stockstill, went live on Facebook for their Sunday service.

“As he was doing the Facebook live, he was getting messages from his people saying, ‘Please send boats,'” Daw said. “‘We’re trapped in the house. Nobody knows we are here.'”

For Jackson, it was tragedy for a loved one that touched her.

“She’s Family,” Jackson said.

For Daw, it was the tragedy of thousands of strangers that touched him.

“I don’t know any of them,” Daw said “We’re called to be a light. We want to be that light.”

The tragedy in Louisiana left both of them wanting to do more.

“We immediately started a GoFundMe,” Jackson said.

Jackson is also collecting baby clothes or diapers. She said Nora wears size 6-12 months. Click here to see her GoFundMe.

“We have a small footprint, but the Lighthouse serves a community with a bigger footprint, so there is no reason why we can’t load up a truck load this week and a truck load next week to send people to help,” Daw said.

Daw said they are collecting food, water, and any other donations to take to Louisiana Tuesday night. He said they will continue collecting to take on another trip next week. Donations will be collected each day at the Lighthouse church until 9:00 p.m. at 98 South Tradeway Rocky Point NC 28457.