Thousands are still struggling to put their lives back together after the horrific flooding in Louisiana. People are sifting through muddy belongings and looking for things to salvage. But for the thousands of animals in need of shelter, people right here in Oklahoma could make all the difference in the world.
"It just left their emotions raw because they have nothing," Michelle Walker said.
By now you've seen the pictures, flood water washing away people's homes, memories and lives. One resident in particular, Sharon Iles, home was destroyed.
"We made it out with probably five minutes to spare before we would not have made it out," she said. "We got out with one out of three vehicles, the water was coming in the truck as we were trying to get to a high ground."
The rain has stopped in Denham Springs, Louisiana but the pain continues.
"The population of our area is roughly 130,000, out of those 105,000 people were flooded," Sharon Iles said.
Michelle Walker is Iles' cousin and lives in Tulsa.
"I can't physically help them but I can step up and ask others to and I'm sending as much as I can to help them," she said.
But the people aren't the only ones in need.
"What about the animals that did make it?" Walker said. "They're being held in the stock yards down in Baton Rouge. What are they going to eat?"
Thousands of livestock have been displaced and run from fields and barns from rising floodwater and debris. Now, they need a home and new food like their two-legged counterparts.
"There are a lot of Oklahoma ranchers that I'm sure have great hearts and would like to help, they need hay," Walker said. "They need the square bales the most, but of course they can use the round ones as well."
Walker is gathering hay, simple straw to be used as bedding or food, an essential for those animals still suffering.
People rebuild as they can and thousands pour into storm-ravaged areas to help. But Walker and others are calling on you to help the ones often overlooked.
"It's affected people and it will their whole lives," she said.
If you would like to donate hay, call Michelle Walker at 601-600-6024. If you would like to send monetary donations or gift cards you can address them to Michelle Walker P.O. Box 33325 Tulsa, OK 74153.
