Snow Reminded Us How Beautiful Central Is

People outside Central know Central for its great public schools and low crime rate. It’s a wonderful place to live and work. “It’s our refuge,” some residents say.
But Central has another important attribute that people outside Central seldom talk about — the great physical beauty of this part of East Baton Rouge Parish.
Residents have long referred to it as “our beautiful Central.”
However, that self-description took a major hit after the massive flood of August 2016 severely damaged more than 80 percent of the households in Central.
Suddenly, Central wasn’t so beautiful. There was debris and wreckage everywhere. People worked night and day to try to restore their homes, often without insurance or FEMA money.
The rebuilding process was slow to get started and plagued with difficulties. Faced with the bureaucracy of the federal government and the seeming indifference of bureaucrats and mortgage companies.
The stress and endless obstacles began to wear on people. Soon many were willing to give up, but the reality was, they couldn’t. Without insurance money or federal grants, they had nowhere to go.
“Our beautiful Central” was no more. Central was one big trash heap, and the cleanup and restoration process seemed never to end.
Progress came but for most people it came slowly. A year after the flood many people were still not home. However, in the last few months, that has changed. Most people are not only back home but back to normal.
Yet, the cloud of stress and depression continued. There was the knowledge that “It could happen again!” Where was the beautiful Central they loved — the Central that gave them peace of mind?
Football season helped. Some people got out of the house to attend a few games. Then the annual Central Christmas Parade came along on Saturday, December 2. It was a beautiful, clear and mild day. There was a nice turnout, and the world looked pretty good!
At 12 noon, 2,500 people came out to support a fundraiser for Nick Tullier, the Sheriff’s deputy who was badly hurt by a Moslem terrorist. The event was very encouraging.
Then that night, the evening of Saturday, Dec. 2, the City of Central sponsored Christmas at Central Square with Santa Claus, ice skating, real snow, carriage rides, and much more. It was an incredible success, with more than 8,000 people in attendance — the largest crowd of any kind in the history of Central!
It seemed clear the stage was being set for something big to happen. Something very positive.
That happened when the snow began to fall on the morning of Friday, Dec. 8! A stunning blanket of white fluffy snow began to fall on Centeral.
Everyone was smiling and happy. On that morning, there was more happiness that in the past 16 months. Whether they were two years old or 92 years old, people could not contain their utter joy!
Everyone was talking about the weather, not in fear but in awe!
It was so beautiful!
Suddenly, “our beautiful Central” had returned, not as we remembered it but in a new way. It was fresh, new and exciting. A new day had arrived!
On that morning, we got our confidence back.
So much had happened between August 2016 and this December. So much hardship and agony. All suffered. Some died from the stress and anxiety.
Yet suddenly, things were beautiful again. All could see what a wonderful place Central is! A wonderful place. A safe place with great schools.
A beautiiful place!
The flood tested us, but we passed the test. We made it through the night!
It was more than snow! It was a new start for everyone!