76°
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
7 Day Forecast
Follow our weather team on social media

2 On Your Side with Brittany Weiss is here for you.

Watch 2 On Your Side reports on all WBRZ News 2 newscasts: morning, noon, afternoon and evening.  Brittany Weiss is the 2 On Your Side anchor/reporter.  Check this page daily for helpful information and On Your Side reports.

Send tips to OnYourSide@wbrz.com

Volunteers rebuild home for Denham Springs family impacted by flood, dirty contractors

DENHAM SPRINGS - It was a wonderful homecoming Thursday for a family displaced from their home since the 2016 flood.

Teressa Bell and her wheelchair-bound daughter, Donna, have been through a lot these last two years. Now they can finally rest easy knowing they'll soon be moving back into the place they've called home for more than 30 years.

Bell cut the ribbon to her newly renovated home before they entered through the front door surrounded by family, friends, AmeriCorps volunteers, and Sen. John Kennedy.

"We didn't know we had so many friends," said Bell. "It's amazing, it's better than it was."

The home has been completely redone after it was torn down to the studs. Bell says about 10 feet of water took on her two-story home off Highway 16 in Denham Springs. The morning their home flooded, Bell says she got her daughter to safety by taking her up the stairs to the second story. They were rescued by boat from the top floor balcony.

Soon after the flood, Bell says she was scammed by a contractor who took all her FEMA money and didn't do any work. Then she was scammed by a second contractor, who promised to help her.

"I trusted him with my life and gave him all my money," she said.

Help finally knocked on their door in the help of charity. Bell was connected with The Fuller Center for Housing, a nonprofit Christian housing ministry and an AmeriCorps that worked on her home for weeks. The crews were at Bell's home for the reveal, along with Barbara Stewart, CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service, the federal agency that runs AmeriCorps. 

"This is a special day just to see the excitement of the family," said Stewart. "They've been out of their home for more than two years."

There's still work to be done, but volunteers were celebrating the home and the family that will live there. The family hopes to move in soon.

"We're not just doing this because it's the right thing to do, we're doing this for Ms. Teressa and we're doing this because she needs us to," said AmeriCorps member Robert Stone.

Nearly everything the Bell's had was destroyed in the flood. Walmart and Target donated furniture and appliances to furnish the home.

Grid
List
DENHAM SPRINGS - It was a wonderful homecoming Thursday for a family displaced from their home since the 2016 flood.... More >>
5 years ago Thursday, November 08 2018 Nov 8, 2018 Thursday, November 08, 2018 5:43:00 PM CST November 08, 2018 in News
WALKER - A homeowner who's been waiting nearly a year to get the title to her mobile home doesn't have... More >>
5 years ago Thursday, November 01 2018 Nov 1, 2018 Thursday, November 01, 2018 6:42:00 PM CDT November 01, 2018 in News
BATON ROUGE - There's a concept called ride-sharing and a program in the Baton Rouge area is working to help... More >>
5 years ago Tuesday, October 23 2018 Oct 23, 2018 Tuesday, October 23, 2018 6:58:00 PM CDT October 23, 2018 in News
BATON ROUGE - A manufactured housing company was ordered to stop selling houses until a paperwork issue is fixed. ... More >>
5 years ago Tuesday, October 23 2018 Oct 23, 2018 Tuesday, October 23, 2018 5:36:00 PM CDT October 23, 2018 in News
BATON ROUGE - A condemned property is still in ruins, despite a woman's efforts to demolish what's left of the... More >>
5 years ago Monday, October 22 2018 Oct 22, 2018 Monday, October 22, 2018 9:18:00 PM CDT October 22, 2018 in News
BATON ROUGE - The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Louisiana Department of Justice hosted a town hall focusing on... More >>
5 years ago Thursday, October 18 2018 Oct 18, 2018 Thursday, October 18, 2018 5:13:00 PM CDT October 18, 2018 in News
BATON ROUGE - There's a sewer leak between two apartment buildings, and so far there's been no fix for the... More >>
5 years ago Wednesday, October 17 2018 Oct 17, 2018 Wednesday, October 17, 2018 6:35:00 PM CDT October 17, 2018 in News
BATON ROUGE - A home that's been on the City-Parish condemnation list since 2014 finally came tumbling down this week.... More >>
5 years ago Friday, October 12 2018 Oct 12, 2018 Friday, October 12, 2018 6:01:00 PM CDT October 12, 2018 in News
PIERRE PART - A home in Assumption Parish has been leaking sewage for months. Neighbors are not happy about it... More >>
5 years ago Thursday, October 11 2018 Oct 11, 2018 Thursday, October 11, 2018 7:11:00 PM CDT October 11, 2018 in News
BATON ROUGE - A few dozen residents woke up to find a boot on the wheel of their car Tuesday... More >>
5 years ago Tuesday, October 09 2018 Oct 9, 2018 Tuesday, October 09, 2018 6:31:00 PM CDT October 09, 2018 in News
LIVINGSTON - Multiple homeowners from Livingston Parish tell 2 On Your Side's Brittany Weiss they're ineligible for Restore Louisiana reimbursement... More >>
5 years ago Friday, October 05 2018 Oct 5, 2018 Friday, October 05, 2018 5:31:00 PM CDT October 05, 2018 in News
WALKER - A family has rebuilt their house after the August 2016 flood to the specifications they were told by... More >>
5 years ago Wednesday, October 03 2018 Oct 3, 2018 Wednesday, October 03, 2018 10:10:00 PM CDT October 03, 2018 in News
GONZALES - A homeowner says her property is sinking and she blames a deteriorating pipe running through her backyard. After... More >>
6 years ago Thursday, September 27 2018 Sep 27, 2018 Thursday, September 27, 2018 5:18:00 PM CDT September 27, 2018 in News
PRAIRIEVILLE - Wednesday, 2 On Your Side followed up on a story about a mobile home riddled with problems and... More >>
6 years ago Wednesday, September 26 2018 Sep 26, 2018 Wednesday, September 26, 2018 5:34:00 PM CDT September 26, 2018 in News
PRAIRIEVILLE - A manufactured house is causing its new owners a lot more trouble than it should. They contacted 2... More >>
6 years ago Tuesday, September 25 2018 Sep 25, 2018 Tuesday, September 25, 2018 5:31:00 PM CDT September 25, 2018 in News
BATON ROUGE - A flood victim's story is finally coming to an end. Floy Cook has lived through plenty of... More >>
6 years ago Friday, September 21 2018 Sep 21, 2018 Friday, September 21, 2018 5:57:00 PM CDT September 21, 2018 in News
GONZALES - A couple of homeowners are having a property issue in a relatively new subdivision in Ascension Parish. ... More >>
6 years ago Wednesday, September 19 2018 Sep 19, 2018 Wednesday, September 19, 2018 5:21:00 PM CDT September 19, 2018 in News
DENHAM SPRINGS - A woman who contacted 2 On Your Side last month received a delivery from a mobile home... More >>
6 years ago Tuesday, September 18 2018 Sep 18, 2018 Tuesday, September 18, 2018 6:00:00 PM CDT September 18, 2018 in News
PRAIRIEVILLE - Two years after a steam cleaning error, a woman is handed a check for her damages. Dianne... More >>
6 years ago Thursday, September 13 2018 Sep 13, 2018 Thursday, September 13, 2018 5:26:00 PM CDT September 13, 2018 in News
BATON ROUGE - The City-Parish says it's been very busy the last couple of days responding to phone calls about... More >>
6 years ago Wednesday, September 12 2018 Sep 12, 2018 Wednesday, September 12, 2018 6:33:00 PM CDT September 12, 2018 in News
BATON ROUGE - Daily weather trouble is causing flooding in some neighborhoods. People are annoyed that a sudden shower causes... More >>
6 years ago Tuesday, September 11 2018 Sep 11, 2018 Tuesday, September 11, 2018 5:52:00 PM CDT September 11, 2018 in News
WALKER - It's almost been a year since a woman purchased a mobile home and she still has not received... More >>
6 years ago Monday, September 10 2018 Sep 10, 2018 Monday, September 10, 2018 10:30:00 PM CDT September 10, 2018 in News
BATON ROUGE - Tailgating season is here and LSU fans are ready. "First home game, glad to be here,"... More >>
6 years ago Saturday, September 08 2018 Sep 8, 2018 Saturday, September 08, 2018 8:01:00 PM CDT September 08, 2018 in News
LIVINGSTON - A temporary trailer park should have been cleaned up and gone long ago, but it's not. People who... More >>
6 years ago Thursday, September 06 2018 Sep 6, 2018 Thursday, September 06, 2018 6:21:00 PM CDT September 06, 2018 in News
SLAUGHTER - A group of parents say the school where their children attend is falling apart. They've formed a group... More >>
6 years ago Wednesday, September 05 2018 Sep 5, 2018 Wednesday, September 05, 2018 6:16:00 PM CDT September 05, 2018 in News
LIVINGSTON – Matthew Morris, a contractor wrapped up in widespread fraud allegations after the August 2016 flood, pleaded guilty in... More >>
6 years ago Tuesday, September 04 2018 Sep 4, 2018 Tuesday, September 04, 2018 10:08:00 AM CDT September 04, 2018 in News
UPDATE Cathie Youngkin tells 2 On Your Side's Brittany Weiss she received a check in the mail from Republic Services... More >>
6 years ago Friday, August 31 2018 Aug 31, 2018 Friday, August 31, 2018 6:08:00 PM CDT August 31, 2018 in News
ZACHARY - Some residents living along Eagle Drive in Zachary are asking the city to install speed bumps on their... More >>
6 years ago Thursday, August 30 2018 Aug 30, 2018 Thursday, August 30, 2018 5:21:00 PM CDT August 30, 2018 in News
DENHAM SPRINGS - Potholes are popping up in subdivisions in Livingston Parish and the Department of Public Works says it's... More >>
6 years ago Wednesday, August 29 2018 Aug 29, 2018 Wednesday, August 29, 2018 5:39:00 PM CDT August 29, 2018 in News
BATON ROUGE - A temporary stoplight that's been in place since 2016 will finally be given a permanent home. That... More >>
6 years ago Monday, August 27 2018 Aug 27, 2018 Monday, August 27, 2018 7:00:00 PM CDT August 27, 2018 in News
BATON ROUGE - Channel 2 is on the side of a man living along North Foster Drive Friday. For the... More >>
6 years ago Friday, August 24 2018 Aug 24, 2018 Friday, August 24, 2018 7:24:00 PM CDT August 24, 2018 in News
GREENWELL SPRINGS - A homeowner is having trouble with her insurance company, which tells her it won't release her supplemental... More >>
6 years ago Wednesday, August 22 2018 Aug 22, 2018 Wednesday, August 22, 2018 6:55:00 PM CDT August 22, 2018 in News
UPDATE: The City-Parish says that because of the severity of the erosion at the back of Al Alexander's property related... More >>
6 years ago Friday, August 17 2018 Aug 17, 2018 Friday, August 17, 2018 6:48:00 PM CDT August 17, 2018 in News
LIVINGSTON - A family that lost everything in the flood, including all proof of ownership to their home, is finally... More >>
6 years ago Thursday, August 16 2018 Aug 16, 2018 Thursday, August 16, 2018 6:15:00 PM CDT August 16, 2018 in News
DENHAM SPRINGS - Restore Louisiana says it was all a miscommunication, after one if its applicants contacted 2 On Your... More >>
6 years ago Wednesday, August 15 2018 Aug 15, 2018 Wednesday, August 15, 2018 6:27:00 PM CDT August 15, 2018 in News
BATON ROUGE - Some residents living at a senior living apartment building off Hooper Road say they've been having trouble... More >>
6 years ago Tuesday, August 14 2018 Aug 14, 2018 Tuesday, August 14, 2018 10:00:00 PM CDT August 14, 2018 in News
WALKER - Tucked away in a neighborhood off Hwy 447 in Livingston Parish is a pond system where raw sewage... More >>
6 years ago Monday, August 13 2018 Aug 13, 2018 Monday, August 13, 2018 6:29:00 PM CDT August 13, 2018 in News
SCOTLANDVILLE - A man is wondering what he has to do to get his ditch cleaned out and cleared of... More >>
6 years ago Monday, August 06 2018 Aug 6, 2018 Monday, August 06, 2018 6:59:00 PM CDT August 06, 2018 in News
PLAQUEMINE - A cemetery has been without AT&T service for a month and says it's been detrimental to business. ... More >>
6 years ago Wednesday, August 01 2018 Aug 1, 2018 Wednesday, August 01, 2018 5:53:00 PM CDT August 01, 2018 in News
DENHAM SPRINGS - A mobile home that's been abandoned and slowly falling apart is an eyesore and health hazard to... More >>
6 years ago Tuesday, July 31 2018 Jul 31, 2018 Tuesday, July 31, 2018 5:40:00 PM CDT July 31, 2018 in News
BATON ROUGE - A softball player, whose car was stolen with her athletic gear inside received a little help Monday... More >>
6 years ago Monday, July 30 2018 Jul 30, 2018 Monday, July 30, 2018 6:42:00 PM CDT July 30, 2018 in News
BATON ROUGE - A Baton Rouge visitor left the boot state with huge sticker shock when she was charged nearly... More >>
6 years ago Monday, July 30 2018 Jul 30, 2018 Monday, July 30, 2018 5:19:00 PM CDT July 30, 2018 in News
BATON ROUGE - A piece of furniture has caused one Baton Rouge woman some major headaches. It broke a few... More >>
6 years ago Friday, July 27 2018 Jul 27, 2018 Friday, July 27, 2018 5:55:00 PM CDT July 27, 2018 in News
BATON ROUGE - A dead tree that sits on the City-Parish right-of-way dropped a rotting limb on a man's fence.... More >>
6 years ago Thursday, July 26 2018 Jul 26, 2018 Thursday, July 26, 2018 5:37:00 PM CDT July 26, 2018 in News
BATON ROUGE - A Woodlawn High School graduate who is looking forward to a softball career, had her prized possessions... More >>
6 years ago Wednesday, July 25 2018 Jul 25, 2018 Wednesday, July 25, 2018 5:34:00 PM CDT July 25, 2018 in News
GONZALES - A case involving a contractor accused of fraud in multiple parishes could soon be coming to a close... More >>
6 years ago Tuesday, July 24 2018 Jul 24, 2018 Tuesday, July 24, 2018 6:24:00 PM CDT July 24, 2018 in News
BATON ROUGE - A U.S. Postal Worker is accused of kicking addressed mail into a storm drain. The alleged... More >>
6 years ago Friday, July 20 2018 Jul 20, 2018 Friday, July 20, 2018 7:00:00 PM CDT July 20, 2018 in News
BATON ROUGE - There's a blight concern on Sherwood Street in Baton Rouge. One of the property owners with a... More >>
6 years ago Thursday, July 19 2018 Jul 19, 2018 Thursday, July 19, 2018 6:46:00 PM CDT July 19, 2018 in News
GREENWELL SPRINGS - Multiple bridge closures in the northern part of East Baton Rouge Parish have some residents concerned for... More >>
6 years ago Wednesday, July 18 2018 Jul 18, 2018 Wednesday, July 18, 2018 5:33:00 PM CDT July 18, 2018 in News
DENHAM SPRINGS - A woman is stuck with thousands of dollars in credit card debt after she tells 2 On... More >>
6 years ago Monday, July 16 2018 Jul 16, 2018 Monday, July 16, 2018 6:31:00 PM CDT July 16, 2018 in News

News tip form