For the first time in more than four months, Nicole Thibodeaux of New Iberia will be able to walk through her backyard thanks to the United Way of Acadiana and a team of AmeriCorps volunteers.

The backyard has been obstructed by a large tree that fell during Hurricane Gustav on Sept. 1.

Thibodeaux, who is disabled, called several nonprofit organizations and government agencies after the storm including the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Red Cross, SMILE and Iberia Parish Government.

AmeriCorps volunteer Abbie Courter, foreground, carries tree limbs while United Way worker Michelle Burris, AmeriCorps volunteer Katie Evans and homeowner Nicole Thiodeaux help remove debris in backyard of home in New Iberia. A tree that blew over during Hurricane Gustav has covered the yard since September. - Heather Miller / The Daily Iberian Advertisement

Professional tree removal services would have cost about $500, Thibodeaux said.

“No one wanted to help,” Thibodeaux said. “They helped for different things, but not this.”

But when Thibodeaux contacted Michelle Burris, tree and debris cleanup operations manager for United Way of Acadiana in Lafayette, she said she finally found the help she needed.

“When she (Burris) came and saw the tree covering my whole backyard, she got to work helping me,” Thibodeaux said. “This is truly a blessing.”

Angela Morrison, chief programs officer for United Way of Acadiana, said the Acadiana branch collaborated with United Way of Iberia and other regional United Ways to reach out to families in need of cleanup assistance. The organization also is removing trees in St. Martinville, Breaux Bridge and Abbeville.

United Way of Acadiana has removed at least 36 trees in the Lafayette area so far, and more volunteer teams will be here in April, Burris said.

“A lot of people need professional services and they can’t afford them,” Burris said. “I have a lot of places to go, but we’ll do whatever we can to help ... We’ve covered a lot of places. I’m glad to do it.”

To get the trees removed, United Way of Acadiana has been working with AmeriCorps, which brought in a team of volunteers from Sacramento, Calif., to stay in New Iberia for two weeks and do as much clean-up work as possible, said Jennifer Tangeman, the AmeriCorps team’s media representative.

The volunteers, who range from 18 to 24 years old, are serving through National Civilian Community Corps branch of AmeriCorps and have been trained in disaster relief, homeland security, education, unmet human needs and environment.

Tangeman said the team has experience in disaster relief work from volunteering in Galveston, Texas, after Hurricane Ike devastated the island in September.

“We’ve felt very welcome in New Iberia so far,” said Tangeman. “We love Louisiana.”