After years of battling power outages during hurricanes and summer storms, Louisiana native John Vindas has found lasting relief thanks to the Chickasaw Nation Homeowner Preparedness Grant program.
Vindas, a Chickasaw citizen, and his family recently received a grant from the Chickasaw Nation to install a whole-home generator, offering crucial peace of mind during Louisiana’s chaotic storm season. The support, initiated by a proactive call from the Chickasaw Nation Housing Administration following Hurricane Francine, came as a welcomed surprise.
“They just called me and asked if I needed help,” Vindas said.
Hurricane Francine brought extensive flooding to the state of Louisiana. Although Vindas and his family did not suffer significant damage to their home in Madisonville, the weather event left them without power for days.
“Every hurricane we have, we lose power,” Vindas said. “It could be from two days to two weeks.”
The Homeowner Preparedness Grant typically provides funding to Chickasaw citizens for storm shelters, storm shutters, generators, sandbags and pier wrapping. However, because of the high-water tables in southern Louisiana, underground shelters are uncommon.
“You’re not digging too far here in Louisiana – you’ll hit water pretty quick,” Vindas said. “The generator really serves a bigger purpose for us when we lose power, and it happens a lot.”
The Chickasaw Nation Homeowner Preparedness Grant showcases the Chickasaw Nation’s dedication to serving Chickasaw citizens, both inside and outside of Oklahoma.
“We were so grateful,” Vindas’ wife, Ana, said. “It’s miserable when the power goes out. It’s so hot and humid here. Having that generator truly changed our lives.”
To show their appreciation, John Vindas and his son Caleb created a handcrafted 6-foot cypress bench and delivered it personally to the Chickasaw Nation’s Housing Administration in Ada, Oklahoma.
Made from reclaimed wood sourced from the bayous of Lafitte, Louisiana, the bench is both beautiful and meaningful. It bears the Chickasaw Nation name, a carved leaning pole with feathers and an outline of the state of Louisiana with a heartfelt message inside: “ihullo (love) from the Bayou.”
An inscription on the bench shares a quote Vindas said reminded him of the tribe’s enduring spirit: “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.”
The bench now sits at the Chickasaw Nation Community Center in Ada, Oklahoma, serving as a daily reminder of the ties that bind Chickasaw citizens across the country.
“It’s not heavy, but it’s solid,” Vindas said. “Cypress is a soft wood, but it lasts forever – just like our appreciation.”
The Vindas family hopes their story will encourage other Chickasaw families, especially those living at-large, to explore the services available to them.
“A lot of people just don’t know what’s out there,” Vindas said. “This grant was a game-changer for us, and it can be for others too.”
For more information about the Chickasaw Nation Homeowner Preparedness Grant program, visit Chickasaw.net/StormPrep or contact the Chickasaw Nation Housing Administration at (580) 421-8800.