While the New Iberia area was spared the full force of Hurricane
Rita, the storm did cause some significant damage in the area.

While the winds were not nearly as significant in this area as
they were farther to our west, there was more damage than was expected. There
are lots of limbs and trees down, some roofs or awnings torn off, and other more
minor damage to homes and structures. Most everyone was without power for a day
or two. As this is written, several employees’ homes are still without power,
including publisher Will Chapman.

Chapman reported that the lack of electricity was all the more
of an inconvenience as his power was still out though most all the houses around
him had power restored a day or more before. His particular side of the street
has a problem affecting just his and two other homes, making correcting it less
of a priority than other areas.

More of a problem for the area was a water surge, a combination
of high tide and lots of rain pushed by the high winds. Areas south of U.S. Hwy.
90 are low, but even long-time residents were surprised at the flooding.
Residents of Delcambre and other communities just outside New Iberia had
significant flooding, trapping hundreds of people on their roof and in their
home.

Senior News Editor Don Shoopman and his son Joshua braved the
strong winds after the storm to join a flotilla of volunteers who used their
boats to rescue stranded citizens.

One couple in a Lafayette hospital reported having to scare off
a large alligator before they swam from their flooded home. A fast moving log
floating in the water injured the wife, causing her to seek medical
attention.

Businesses at the Port of Iberia were flooded, then when water
receded, other problems were found, like a chemical spill that was storm
related, shutting down clean up efforts until that particular problem could be
addressed.

The newspaper facility escaped serious damage, though had
several places where the roof was damaged and water got in. Editor Steve Bandy’s
office was flooded.

A group of dedicated department heads and employees showed up at
the office right after the worst of the storm, to start working on getting a
paper out. A generator powered a few lights and a few computers. The humidity in
the building was a real problem, and paper had to be put down on the hard
surfaced floors that were otherwise slick like ice.

With a lot of hard work and effort, Sunday’s paper was printed
in Houma, Louisiana and on the street by noon Sunday. The circulation department
reported more than 85 percent of the papers delivered that day, with the rest to
go out on Monday.

"I am extremely proud of the dedicated staff we have at The
Daily Iberian. " Chapman said. "People showed up Saturday afternoon and just
asked, ‘What can I do to help?’ I also heard from readers who complimented us
for getting them their paper, even in the face of such obstacles, including
comments like, ‘I knew you guys would be working to get us a paper.’"

Chapman noted his Daily Iberian was in his box around noon on
Sunday, while the Lafayette Advertiser, which didn’t lose power, wasn’t
delivered until 6 p.m. Sunday night.