A Sister’s Story Through Hurricane Ida

When Hurricane Ida roared into Southeast Louisiana, it didn’t just shake homes, it tested the spirit of every person in its path. At SBP, we hear countless stories from those navigating disaster’s aftermath. Few are as moving or as full-circle as that of Sister Regina Marie.

For years, Sister Regina Marie has been an essential part of SBP’s community. No one quite remembers who met her first, but everyone remembers her impact. She has brought thousands of volunteers to worksites, raised critical funds through her network, and poured love and energy into every corner of our mission. A passionate advocate with tireless energy, she lives out the Ursuline motto of “service in action” every day.

But when Ida struck, the roles were reversed.

Sister Regina Marie and her fellow sisters, Ginger, Maggie, and Marianne, who lives with dementia, prepared as best they could. They installed hurricane shutters, gathered flashlights, and followed emergency plans, guided in part by SBP’s preparedness notices. 

The winds roared. Trees bent and broke. Roof shingles tore away. At four in the morning, the ceiling in Ginger’s room gave out, collapsing under the weight of water and insulation. Buckets and shower curtains became emergency tools to manage the flooding. “We were drenched, collecting water any way we could,” Sister Regina Marie recalled. Despite the destruction, the sisters found a small comfort in a hot cup of coffee.

As they gathered themselves and assessed the damage, Sister Regina Marie turned to her desk and checked her inbox. There she found a message from SBP’s co-founder Liz McCartney. It wasn’t a standard update, but a sincere check-in: “Sister Regina Marie, how are you? Is there anything we can do?” Moved by the message, Sister Regina Marie shared her story.

Within hours, SBP staff members stepped in with reassurance and support. Her calm presence on the phone brought clarity. Even Liz’s young son, who overheard the conversation, asked, “Mom, Sister Regina Marie helps SBP. Shouldn’t SBP help Sister Regina Marie too?”

The next morning, SBP’s team arrived with supplies, support, and a moment of connection. In the days that followed, SBP provided a generator, water, ice, muck-and-gut services, and a tarped roof. For someone who had given so much to SBP over the years, we were finally able to give back.

Now 82, Sister Regina Marie is once again looking ahead. Her home will need repair work, and the sisters will relocate temporarily. But true to form, she is already thinking about how to bring more volunteers to support SBP’s recovery efforts in Southeast Louisiana.

Reflecting on the experience, she shared: “It’s one thing being a volunteer and teaching other volunteers to give. You know the day will end and you can go home. But living through it, night after night, you wake up feeling like a truck ran over you. Still, you shape up and get going. People are what’s important. Not the house or the frills, just the basics. The most wonderful thing is friends and neighbors. That’s what matters.”

This is what recovery looks like, compassion in action, powered by community and grounded in hope. It’s why we continue our work, storm after storm.

SBP is actively recruiting volunteers for our Hurricane Ida recovery work in southeast Louisiana. We’d love to have you. Sign up here.