Dan Tobias, 83, is a famed Mardi Gras Indian, a ranking member of the Choctaw tribe.  

Like many seniors who suffered disproportionally from the hurricane, he lost everything and was fortunate to survive.   The trauma caused him to sink deeply in depression.  Today, with the help of Volunteers of America’s Louisiana Spirit Crisis Counseling program on the NorthShore, he is healing and is enjoying living again.

Mr. Dan had a harrowing experience.  When his New Orleans home started flooding, he knew he had to get out or drown.  He escaped, but the water in the streets soon rose over his head and he clung to floating debris to survive.  In a macabre twist, he and a friend grabbed onto a floating coffin, which he was startled to discover contained the body of his recently deceased friend.  

Thankfully, Mr. Dan was rescued and ended up in Dallas where he found himself alone among strangers.  He was greatly distressed.  He was able to get to San Antonio to join a brother, and then later to St.  Helena Parish to be with a friend.    There, he settled in a FEMA trailer.  But the hurricane experience took everything out of him.  He felt so alone and depressed he couldn’t function.

Helping hurricane survivors like Mr. Dan cope is the purpose of the Louisiana Spirit Crisis Counseling program, which Volunteers of America manages in five NorthShore parishes.  Free crisis  counseling is available to all those impacted by the storm.

Counselors began working with Mr. Dan, and, slowly, he was able to heal and recover.  They encouraged him to get involved in a local senior care program where he connected with new friends.  Now, Mr. Dan is doing well enough to help others by volunteering at a nursing home.  Disaster can take a great toll of mental health.  Yet, with the Louisiana Spirit Crisis Counseling program reminds everyone that recovery is possible.  

To learn more about free crisis counseling from Volunteers of America's Louisiana Spirit program on the NorthShore, call (985) 674 -0488 or toll-free 1-877-674-0488.