Shareeka West walked around what
is left of her family home on Thursday, still searching for the right words.
"Like right now I don't know what
to say. It's just. It just hurts," said West.
Pain is all that remains from a
blaze that firefighters told Shareeka and her family started because of a gas
leak and a possible electrical short. No one was home at the time of the fire
but at least 10 lives were turned upside down, including those of six children
who are left with many questions.
"They told me they lost
everything and they don't have anywhere to stay, everything is gone," said
West.
Shareeka and her family say the
devastation is hard to comprehend and that's where organizations like the
American Red Cross come into play, providing necessities like shelter and
clothing. But most of all reassurance that everything will eventually be
alright.
"It is really isolating when
you're going through this process. So we want the family to know you will, you
will be resilient in this. You are going to make it and these are some steps
that we can help guide you in that," said Nancy Malone of the Baton Rouge
American Red Cross.
Shareeka and her family did have
rental insurance but the task of rebuilding still looms large, so in the
meantime she plans on remaining strong and answering her children's'
questions the best way she knows how.
"I try to encourage them
everything will be fine. You have your health, your strength, we're alive,"
added West.
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