Our Hurricane Ida Recovery & Response

Zack Klein • September 23, 2021

On the evening of Sunday, August 29, 2021, Hurricane Ida made landfall near Port Fourchon, La. with sustained winds of 150 MPH. It tied the 1856 Last Island hurricane and Hurricane Laura as the strongest landfalling hurricane on record in the state. Only Hurricane Katrina has had higher central pressure at landfall.


This storm caused severe, widespread destruction across South Louisiana and parts of Mississippi. Ida has displaced thousands and devastated many lives. Following the storm, our team mobilized and headed south to help restore lives and businesses.


Responding, Restoring and Re-Occupying


The first step was responding as quickly as soon as it was safe for our team. From there, we started assessing the damages that schools and other commercial properties endured. Then, we met with two school districts to present our scope of work. In total, we are working on all of the 80 public schools located in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana. In addition, we are restoring 33 schools in Orleans Parish. Each day, we have approximately 5,000 individuals working hard to get these places of learning to normal operations. All but 3 to 5 schools are expected to be completed by October 1st.


Last week, our CEO, Shawn Folks was interviewed on WWL-TV Channel 4 in New Orleans on the work we are completing for the schools in Jefferson Parish.

Helping Our Team Help Others

Additionally, our team is comprised of 150 plus individuals are who have been all hands-on deck since before the storm made landfall. We have set-up base at our Kenner office, where our team members are able to get necessary equipment and supplies each day. 


Hurricane Ida-related Resources

  • For FEMA-issued resources and other information, you can visit fema.gov/disaster/hurricane-ida.
  • To apply to for Individual Assistance, go to DisasterAssistance.gov. 
  • You may also apply for FEMA relief by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (local time) seven days a week until further notice.
  • For shelter information or other aid, text 'LASHELTER' to 898211, call 2-1-1 or visit: https://www.louisiana211.org/. 


There When You Need Us Most

We understand that property damage doesn’t happen 9-5 and claims along the Gulf Coast are still occurring. Therefore, our commitment to respond to our partners in all 5 of our locations remains strong.


As always, we are available 24/7, which isn’t just a number, it’s a guarantee. If your property has experienced storm, water, fire or other damage, give our team a call at 1-800-349-HELP (4357), email info@guaranteerestoration.net or visit our website at www.GuaranteeRestoration.com.


Zack Klein

Director of Marketing and Business Development

zack@guaranteerstoration.net

225-268-6939


Zack Klein is the Director of Marketing and Business Development at Guarantee Restoration Services. He celebrated his 7th anniversary with the company in June 2021. To connect with him, visit LinkedIn or send him an email.

Commercial Properties after Flood

Commercial Reconstruction Services After Disasters in New Orleans

By Taylor Millet • July 23, 2025
Commercial property damage in New Orleans demands more than basic repairs. Protect your business with expert reconstruction services that respect historic architecture and help you reopen quickly after disaster.
Property After Natural Disaster

A Guide to Property Damage Recovery: What Happens After the Storm

By Zack Klein • July 16, 2025
Taking the right steps after a storm protects your property and speeds recovery. Assess damage, begin cleanup, and rely on expert restoration services to manage repairs after hurricanes or severe weather on the Gulf Coast.

Meet The Team | Marcela Argueta

By Christina Mullins • July 9, 2025
Saying Hi to July! The summer is here—and so is the 2025 Atlantic Hurricane Season. No matter what it brings, you can be assured that our team at Guarantee Restoration Services will be there when you need us most. Meet the Team: Marcela Argueta Every month, I have the opportunity to showcase our many awesome team members. For July, we are shining the spotlight on Marcela Argueta , who serves as a Lead Technician at our New Orleans location. She was promoted to that position in January 2025 . From Honduras to GRS Marcela was born and raised in La Ceiba, Honduras , also known as “la novia de Honduras” —which translates to “the bride of Honduras.” She moved to the U.S. in December 2016 after earning her bachelor’s degree in nursing from the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras . Marcela is currently approved and ready to take her exam to become a registered nurse in the U.S. Before joining our team in August 2022 , she worked as both a nurse and a homemaker . Life Outside of Work Marcela is a proud mother of two—her son, Sebastian (15) and daughter, Eleanor (5) . When she’s not working, she loves spending quality time with her children and extended family. Fun fact: her half-sister, Brenda , also works at GRS in our Baton Rouge office! One of Marcela’s favorite pastimes is going for walks in the park. She says she often uses this time to meditate and reflect—thinking about what she’s done well and what she could improve.
VIEW ALL BLOGS