DUPONT, La. (KALB) – Heather and Phillip Cormier walked into Cooyon’s Grocery to find their 16-year-old business submerged under more than two feet of water after the remnants of Tropical Storm Arthur devastated the area.
Cooyon’s Grocery in Dupont, La.(KALB)
The water came fast. Video shows the store surrounded by floodwater, with aisles flooded, groceries floating and shelves underwater. Everything on the bottom shelves was lost. Coolers that once held produce now sit empty. Truckloads of ruined food had to be thrown away.
Cooyon’s Grocery in Dupont, La.(Heather and Phillip Cormier)
“It rained, and it rained, and it rained some more, and it continued to rain, and we’ve never, ever had this type of problem,” Heather said.
The Cormiers do not have flood insurance; every dollar of the cleanup and every dollar of the loss will come out of their own pockets.
Cooyon’s Grocery in Dupont, La.(Heather and Phillip Cormier)
“Several thousands. I mean, it’s unbelievable. Everything we lost in the lower level and all refrigerated and frozen items,” Phillip said.
The couple left with four or five trailer loads of ruined inventory.
Community support carries them through
However, the story extends beyond what was lost. Neighbors, friends, customers and employees all pitched in to help save the only grocery store for miles.
Calls came in constantly, with people asking one simple question: How can we help?
Cleanup at Cooyon’s Grocery in Dupont, La.(KALB)
“When we’re not even here, and our customer calls and says, ‘Hey, we’re going to the store. We can pick you up by boat. We’re going to get rid of all that stuff.’ Like they were coming to try and get in without even telling us, so that way they could get rid of it for us. I mean, that’s true friendship,” Heather said.
That support has carried them through the darkest days. For 16 years, they have served this community. Now the community is returning the favor.
“They have been the sole flotation device for us, no pun intended,” Heather said.
Reopening in sight
The cleanup continues. Sandbags still sit outside. Employees wipe down shelves. Coolers are moved back into place. Little by little, Cooyon’s is starting to look like a grocery store again.
Cleanup at Cooyon’s Grocery in Dupont, La.(Heather and Phillip Cormier)
The Cormiers hope to reopen in about a week and a half. Until then, they will keep cleaning, keep rebuilding, and keep doing what they have done for the last 16 years: serving the community they call family.
“They’re chomping at the bit, and so are we. So yeah, we’re the only store here for probably 15 miles in one direction and five in the other. So our little community needs us and vice versa. We need them really badly, too,” Phillip said.
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