28 August 2014. Braithwaite, Louisiana.<br />
Hurricane Isaac 2 years later. <br />
Keeping up appearances.  Russell Gelvin cuts the grass. The predominantly white middle class neighborhood of Braithwaite Park, established in 1936 remains  abandoned as residents failed to return following the flooding and subsequent chemical spill from nearby Stolthaven chemical storage facility.  Insurance companies have often refused to pay residents the full value on their policies and many are now in litigation. Houses once valued at well over $250,000 are rapidly falling into disrepair and blight. Parish ordinances require owners of the abandoned homes to maintain the empty properties. Hurricane Isaac hit on August 29th, 2012.<br />
Photo; Charlie Varley