Former Louisiana governor returns to Erath to be inducted into the Order of Living Legends

ERATH - Former Louisiana Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco was in Erath Saturday night for a happy occasion, unlike her visit nine years ago when the town was underwater from the storm surge of Hurricane Rita.
As the governor, Blanco visited parts of south Louisiana to assess the water damage from Rita. At the time, she made her way towards city hall and John Earl LeBlanc, who was acting as the mayor because George Dupuis fell sick, broke out in tears when he saw the governor and hugged Blanco, asking for help.
Today, thanks to the Road Home Program orchestrated by Gov. Blanco, Erath is rebuilt. LeBlanc is also now the mayor of Erath.
Last week Blanco was back in Erath to be honored by the residents of south Louisiana. She was inducted into the Order of the Living Legends.
As she sat at the head table, as friends and community leaders honored her with gifts.
Scott Angelle introduced her.
“I am happy to see the town of Erath doing so well,” said Blanco. “I have come through Erath over the years. I want to tell you, this beautiful town is doing nicely.
“Congratulations Erath, congratulations Mayor. The town is really looking good.”
Blanco said she remembers her meeting with LeBlanc that day nine years ago and how emotional it was.
“It was rough days for him, me and everyone,” she said. “It was rough for the communities who were affected. We were all affected for days on end. We all worked together and worked hard.”
Hurricane Rita, considered by many as the forgotten hurricane, because it came three weeks after Hurricane Katrina. New Orleans was flooded after levies broke, causing the flood. Many people drowned in the flood in New Orleans.
She told the story of how the people in Washington D.C. wanted to only help those affected by Hurricane Katrina and not Hurricane Rita.
“I had two hurricanes to talk to these people about. They were not interested in having a conversation about the people who were hurt by Hurricane Rita. There was a lot of residence.”
She argued with the politicians in Washington D.C. and said there was no way the people in Iberia, Vermilion and Cameron parishes were going to be left out of the loop to get financial help.
Blanco said politicians felt guilty about Katrina but not Rita
“The people of Louisiana won,” said Blanco.
LeBlanc gave her the key to the town and Kermit Bouillion was the director of the Living Legend Program.