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I remember the first day of the historic rain storm back in August 2016. I was happy to get a free day off from classes at Saint Amant High School in Prairieville, Louisiana. 

What teenager wouldn’t be? 

But the downpour was much worse than anticipated, quickly becoming a life-changing disaster — somewhat like the Los Angeles fires in January, which set entire communities up in flames. 

And it’s because of my experience living through that flood in Prairieville that I know  something about how it feels to be a child in Los Angeles, while going through the  tragedy of the wildfires today. 

In my home state of Louisiana, hurricanes are common. So, when the TV news reported on that fateful day that we’d be getting heavy rain, it wasn’t anything to worry about. I was shocked we even got to stay home from class. 

But then the downpour quickly grew in intensity.  

For three days I watched it rain so hard it came in sideways, crashing into our windows at a much higher tempo than a pitter-patter. Our local newspaper called the storm a 500-year event. 

As the water levels rose, my mom, my little brother, and I fled our home for higher ground at my grandparent’s house. But even their yard saw rain piling above the grass as the ditches were filled by the end of the second day. 

When the storm ended a day later, we had to take a small fishing boat to see my house. It had flooded with a foot of water, destroying the walls, electricity, plumbing and furniture — and we were among the lucky ones. 

My school was not as fortunate. Entire classrooms at Saint Amant were scattered into the parking lot. Chairs and desks littered the campus. Garbage was everywhere. Everything was ruined.

Today, fire-struck areas in Los Angeles are dealing with even worse destruction. 

Cal Fire reported the January fires burned over 57,000 acres, destroyed over 16,000 structures, and resulted in 29 fatalities, making the wildfires one of the worst disasters in the history of California. 

LA School Report described the scene many families and children are going through. 

Los Angeles Unified School District closed all schools for two full days due to the fires, with some schools shut for longer periods due to evacuations. Another three schools in the Palisades must be rebuilt before they can reopen, because they were badly burned or destroyed in the fires. 

The Eaton fire has also done its part, destroying at least five schools in neighboring districts like Pasadena. 

Those students will attend classes at other schools nearby just like I did nearly a decade ago. Their routines are disrupted. Their friendships are in disarray;and their schools will likely not rebuild until they’re too old to return. 

It’s a moment these children will never forget; a horrible event that could change the course of their lives. But it will also make them stronger and prepare them for challenges ahead. 

Soon, it will be just one trial in a list of tribulations that one must overcome in a lifetime. I would know – I’ve been there. 

Jacob Mathews is a freelance reporter with a passion for journalism and storytelling. He recently graduated from Louisiana State University before moving to Los Angeles.

This article is part of a collaboration between The 74 and the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism.