Devastated by Disasters, Lake Charles Is Still Waiting for Help

The Louisiana city, hobbled by two hurricanes, a winter storm and a flood, has struggled to translate sympathy into financial support. It is a challenge other cities could soon face.

LAKE CHARLES, La. — Nic Hunter, the mayor of Lake Charles, has no doubt that elected officials in Washington are well aware of everything his city has weathered. They have told him so, repeatedly. President Donald J. Trump flew to Louisiana last August after it was shredded by Hurricane Laura. “You took a big punch,” Mr. Trump said, “but you’ll be back.” President Biden called Mr. Hunter in May after Lake Charles — already hobbled by another hurricane after Laura and a powerful winter storm — was engulfed by a flood, undoing months of painstaking labor to bring the city back. But Mr. Hunter is tired of kind words.